PRIME MINISTER

Butler Inquiry

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Government provided information to the Butler inquiry team relating to his meeting with President Bush and his advisers held at the White House on 31 January 2003.

Tony Blair: The Government co-operated fully with the Butler review.

TRANSPORT

Maritime Safety

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases involving (a) near miss incidents and (b) contraventions of International Collision Prevention Regulations there have been in the Channel in each year since 2000, broken down by flag.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of near miss incidents and contraventions of International Collision Prevention Regulations, broken down by flag, by year is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Near misses Contraventions of ICPR 
			  2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Antigua and Barbuda — 1 3 4 3 1 
			 Bahamas 2 — — — 1 6 
			 Barbados 1 — — — 1 9 
			 Belgium — — 2 12 12 — 
			 Bermuda — — 1 — — — 
			 Brazil — — 1 — — — 
			 British Virgin Islands — — — — 1 — 
			 Bulgaria — 1 — — — — 
			 Cayman Islands — — 1 1 1 1 
			 China — — — — 1 1 
			 Comoros 1 — — — — — 
			 Cyprus 1 — 2 — 4 — 
			 Denmark — 1 — — — — 
			 France 3 2 2 26 19 13 
			 French Antarctic Territories 1 — — 2 1 — 
			 Germany — — — 3 — 1 
			 Greece — — 1 2 — — 
			 Hong Kong China — — — — — 3 
			 India — — — — — 1 
			 Iran — — — — — 1 
			 Irish Republic — — — — — 1 
			 Isle of Man 1 — — — — 3 
			 Italy — — 1 1 1 — 
			 Korea (North) — — — 1 — — 
			 Liberia 1 1 2 — 2 1 
			 Malaysia 1 — — — — — 
			 Malta — — 1 2 — 5 
			 Marshall Islands — — — 2 — — 
			 Netherlands 2 2 2 5 4 2 
			 Netherlands Antilles — — — — — 1 
			 Norway 1 — 1 3 4 — 
			 Panama 9 2 5 4 6 10 
			 Philippines 1 — — 2 — — 
			 Portugal — 1 — — — — 
			 Portugal (MAR) — — — — 1 1 
			 Russia 1 — — 2 1 1 
			 Spain — 1 — — — — 
			 St. Vincent and the Grenadines — — — 3 2 — 
			 Sweden — — — 1 — — 
			 Turkey 1 — — 2 1 — 
			 United Kingdom 1 — 2 5 7 9 
			 Total 28 12 27 85 71 71 
		
	
	The figures are taken from the Channel Navigation Information Service (CNIS) for the period 23 February 2003 to 31 December 2005. CNIS was installed and commissioned in February 2003.

Buses

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new bus services have commenced running in the North Western Traffic Area in each financial year since 1997.

Karen Buck: The following table shows the number of new bus services registered in the North Western Traffic Area in each financial year since 1 April 1998. The number of services registered before this date cannot be recovered without disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Financial year New bus services registered 
		
		
			 1998–99 1,243 
			 1999–2000 1,077 
			 2000–01 1,147 
			 2001–02 933 
			 2002–03 926 
			 2003–04 772 
			 2004–05 842

Commission for Integrated Transport

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether there is a potential conflict of interest between the chairmanship of his Commission for Integrated Transport and the role of Transport for London Commissioner.

Karen Buck: The role of the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) is focussed on future strategic issues and best practice at a national level, so I am satisfied that there is no general conflict of interest. I believe CfIT benefits from the added value of such a senior figure as Chair. However, in the event that CflT's work was to impinge on TfL's responsibilities the Chair has made it clear that he would declare an interest and if necessary excuse himself from that work. There are many other commissioners and a Vice Chair of CfIT who in that case would have no conflict.

Ferries (Fire Safety)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the recommended method is of extinguishing fires on board roll-on roll-off ferries; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS 1974) requires passenger roll-on roll-off ferries to be fitted with a type-approved, fixed pressure water spraying system to extinguish fires on the vehicle decks.
	The convention also requires drainage or pumping arrangements sufficient to ensure that the water from the spraying system will be discharged rapidly from the ship, to avoid the serious loss of stability that could arise due to water accumulating on the vehicle decks.
	Structural fire protection and fire suppression systems are also required throughout the accommodation and machinery spaces.

Heathrow Airport

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of night flights into Heathrow operated on (a) a westerly and (b) an easterly flight path (i) in 2004 and (ii) in 2005.

Karen Buck: The Department does not hold detailed information on this, which is an operational matter for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS). I understand that they are willing to assist in collating this information and suggest my hon. and learned Friend directs his inquiries to the chief executive of NATS.

Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell Buses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much the trial of hydrogen powered fuel cell buses in London cost; and how much of this amount was met by (a) his Department, (b) the European Union, (c) the Energy Saving Trust and (d) other sources;
	(2)  whether he has received a report on the conclusions drawn from the trial of hydrogen powered fuel cell buses in London; and when he next expects to receive such a report;
	(3)  how many hydrogen powered fuel cell buses have been in operation in each year since 2004.

Karen Buck: Three hydrogen-powered buses have been in operation in London since January 2004 as part of a European demonstration programme supported by this Department and a number of other stakeholders. No other hydrogen-powered buses have been in operation in the UK during the years in question.
	The trial was due to finish in December 2005, but London and a number of other European cities taking part in similar trials are currently in discussions with the European Commission about extending the project for a further year. A report summarising the lessons learned from the trials across Europe is due to be published shortly.
	We estimate that the total costs of the London trial have amounted to over £3 million. Costs have been shared among a number of partners. The European Commission provided just over £1 million of support, and the UK Government provided just under £500,000 through the Department for Transport's New Vehicle Technology Fund programme, administered by the Energy Savings Trust. The trial was overseen by Transport for London and a number of other project partners provided financial and other support. These included London Bus Services Ltd., FirstGroup, Daimler-Chrysler, Ballard, and BP.

Limousines (Licensing)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Department plans to establish a working party involving interested parties to examine the regulations surrounding the licensing of limousines and stretch limousines.

Karen Buck: holding answer 6 February 2006
	We are satisfied that current legislation adequately caters for the licensing of limousines. We are aware of the concerns over stretch limousines and will update our advice to the industry in the near future. We have no plans to set up a working party.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspectors have been employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each year since 2000; and how many inspections were carried out by the agency in each year since 2000, broken down by flag.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of inspectors (surveying staff carrying out Port State Control duties) employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for 2004 was 105. The MCA do not have any staff who work exclusively on Port State Control, but the effort in this activity is about 18 full-time equivalents.
	102 inspectors were employed in 2003. Figures for previous years are unavailable.
	The number of inspections carried out per year is as follows:
	
		
			  UK ships Foreign ships Total 
		
		
			 2000 622 1,806 2,428 
			 2001 683 1,811 2,494 
			 2002 845 1,769 2,614 
			 2003 905 1,692 2,597 
			 2004 984 1,768 2,752 
		
	
	The breakdown by flag is available within the MCA's Annual Plan and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds were allocated for external radio surveys of merchant ships on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2005–06; how much of this fund remains to be spent; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: No funds were allocated for external radio surveys of merchant ships on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2005–06. Vessel owners/operators are responsible for the payment of survey charges.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the retirement age is for employees of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Stephen Ladyman: Employees of the Coastguard may retire at the age of 60 although they have the right to choose to continue in service up to the age of 65.

Merchant Navy (Competency Certificates)

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many holders of certificates of equivalent competency are serving on merchant vessels which joined the UK shipping register since 2000.

Stephen Ladyman: There are currently 8,957 valid holders of Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CECs) in circulation, these having been issued within the last five years. Records of where the holders are currently serving are not kept.

Ministerial Cars

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that all ministerial cars are converted to run on an 85 per cent. biofuel blend as soon as is practically possible.

Karen Buck: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to my hon. Friend. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Roy Burke, dated 13 February 2006
	You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question about the fuel used by the Government car fleet. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has asked me to write in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA).
	GCDA is committed to ensuring that all its vehicles are as environmentally friendly as they can be while meeting the needs of Government. All new vehicles purchased by the Agency will be environmentally friendly. They are either a vehicle with a diesel engine capable of running on bio diesel or a hybrid vehicle.
	Currently there are few vehicles that can be run on bioethanol and conversion at this point in time would be likely to invalidate the manufacturer's warranty. Further, there are very few places in the UK where bioethanol can be purchased. We will continue to monitor the situation and when the technologies of vehicle and fuel are more widely available we will use the most environmentally friendly option available.
	A copy of this letter has been placed in the Libraries of the House for information.

Parliamentary Questions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department follows on answering parliamentary questions.

Karen Buck: The Department follows the Ministerial Code", the Civil Service Code" and Guidance to Officials on Drafting Responses to Parliamentary Questions" when answering parliamentary questions. Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

Rail Safety (Hampshire)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train level crossings in Hampshire (a) are unmanned, (b) have half barriers and (c) have full barriers; which (i) have and (ii) do not have CCTV; and what steps will be taken to upgrade unmanned or those with half barriers in (A) 2005–06 and (B) 2006–07.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held centrally in the form requested.

Rail Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reverse the decision of the Office of Rail Regulation to reject GNER's plans for further half hourly services between London and Leeds including stops at Peterborough.

Derek Twigg: The decision is one for the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Rail Strikes

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Virgin Cross Country regarding the use of untrained staff on strike days in the current dispute with the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union.

Derek Twigg: Pay and conditions are matters for negotiation between staff and employers. Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate have been consulted on the arrangements of trained staff to provide cover as guards/train managers on strike days. The company are satisfied that their safety case has not been compromised.

Road Pricing Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has published guidelines on whether (a) local and (b) national road pricing schemes should be revenue neutral; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has not published guidance on whether local and national road pricing schemes should be revenue neutral.

Road Signs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on conversion of British road signs to metric.

Karen Buck: The Government have no such proposals. UK legislation requires that imperial units be used for indicating speeds and distances on traffic signs. EC legislation on units of measurement (council directive 80/181/EEC, as amended by directive 89/617/EEC) allows the continuing use of miles and yards on UK road signs.

Roadworks (Speed Restrictions)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed restrictions have been imposed as a result of roadworks in each of the last five years; and how many have continued to operate when work on the road is not happening.

Stephen Ladyman: Traffic authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits, including temporary restrictions at roadworks. These records are retained by individual traffic authorities but there are no central figures indicating how many speed restrictions have been imposed as a result of roadworks in the last five years.
	Temporary speed restrictions are for the benefit of both road workers and road users, and are considered when a temporary hazard exists such as restricted visibility, narrow lanes, loss of vehicle restraint barrier, or other construction hazard. While it may not always be obvious to passing motorists that such a hazard exists, it is important that any imposed speed restrictions should remain as long as the hazard remains, even when no work is physically taking place.

Traffic Management Act

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what penalties have been issued by each local authority for disruption caused by roadworks under the Traffic Management Act 2004; and what the cash value of these penalties is.

Karen Buck: The regulations enabling penalties have not yet been made. Consequently penalty notices cannot yet be issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Tyne and Wear (Financial Bids)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what payments have been made to Newcastle City Council and its partners for the Quayside Transit System, broken down by year.

Karen Buck: pursuant to the reply, 8 December 2005, Official Report, c. 1465W
	The Department has paid Newcastle city council a total of £4.711 million for the Quayside Public Transport Scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to achieve a sustained and significant reduction in the production and trafficking of narcotics in the Afghan province of Helmand; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The southern province of Helmand is one of Afghanistan's most significant poppy growing provinces. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 26 January, UK troops will be deployed to Helmand in support of a UN authorised, NATO-led mission, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and as part of the international coalition. They will work to counter insurgency and help the appropriate authorities build security and Government institutions to continue the progress of recent years. Above all, their presence will help the Afghans create the environment in which economic development and institutional reform—both essential to the elimination of the opium industry—can take place. ISAF forces will help with the provision of training to Afghan counter-narcotics forces and will when necessary provide support to their operations. They will help the Afghan Government explain their policies to the people.
	The UK's aim is to make drug production a high risk/low benefit endeavour by developing a stronger and more effective provincial government, strengthening the Governor and his office, building greater local drugs law enforcement capacity (strengthening the Counter Narcotics Police) and developing criminal justice systems to deliver sustained progress against the drugs trade. We will work with the Government of Afghanistan to increase access to legal rural livelihoods and to increase the perception of risk associated with poppy cultivation to encourage farmers and traffickers to make a sustained move away from cultivation of opium poppy.
	Our counter narcotics objectives for Helmand are consistent with the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy, which the Afghan Government recently reviewed and updated with the support of the UK as partner nation for counter narcotics. The strategy was launched at the London Conference on 31 January to 1 February. It sets out four key priorities, which we believe will help make a greater impact on the trade and sustain the reduction in cultivation we have seen in 2005. These are: targeting traffickers; strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods; building institutions; and demand reduction.

Afghanistan

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution other countries are making to the British led anti-opium initiative in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: The Government of Afghanistan is responsible for leading the counter narcotics effort in Afghanistan. As key partner nation for counter narcotics, the UK is committed to helping Afghanistan deliver its National Drug Control Strategy and to coordinating international assistance in support of the strategy.
	It is not possible to quantify, numerically, the total level of counter narcotics assistance provided by the international community as much of it takes the form of capacity building, including the secondment of mentors and trainers to the counter narcotics police of Afghanistan and the counter narcotics criminal justice task force. Equally there is no clear dividing line between broader reconstruction and counter narcotics specific assistance.
	However, the US is the biggest contributor to the Government of Afghanistan's counter narcotics campaign—spending US$787.9 million in 2005. Other key players include EU member states and the Commission (spending €150 million from 2005, excluding UK spending), Norway, Canada and Afghanistan's regional partners.
	Australia, New Zealand, the European Commission, Estonia, Sweden, the US, Korea and the UK have also contributed to the Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF), launched by the Government of Afghanistan in October 2005. To date, total commitments to the CNTF stand at US$77.5 million.

Afghanistan

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what payments he has authorised to Afghan poppy farmers; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In 2002, the Afghan Transitional Authority considered it appropriate to offer a one-off programme of compensation payments to opium poppy farmers on the basis that the poppy crop had been planted during the Taliban regime, before the current regime came to power. The UK provided financial assistance worth £21.25 million in order to support the new regime's commitment to tackle drugs production, but it was the responsibility of the Afghan authorities to administer the system of payments. The UK has not authorised any further payments.

Afghanistan

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the death of Mr. Steve MacQueen in Afghanistan; and what stage British investigations of his death have reached.

Kim Howells: Steven MacQueen, a British national working for the World Bank as an adviser to the Government of Afghanistan's Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, was shot and killed by unknown attackers in a main street in Kabul on 7 March 2005.
	The Government of Afghanistan asked the UK to assist with their investigation into Mr. MacQueen's murder. Officers of the Metropolitan police service visited Kabul in March, May, July and November 2005 to assist the Government of Afghanistan with their on-going investigations. To date, no-one has been charged.

Belarus

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage the development of civil society in Belarus.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides support for non-governmental organisations and help to civil society in Belarus under the Global Opportunities Fund and other FCO budgets. Since 2002, we have provided over £1,500,000 for this purpose. The Government also provide funding through the EU. During the UK's presidency, the EU agreed steps to increase contact with the Belarusian people and to strengthen support for civil society, including through technical assistance and by opening an EU office in Minsk. To this end the EU has transferred €2 million to the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights programme, which is better suited to providing support for civil society.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) at and (b) at General Affairs Council meetings since the meeting of the General Affairs Council of the EU on 21 and 22 November 2005 he (i) proposed a commitment of and (ii) was asked to contribute (A) arms and (B) material to the EU mission in Congo.

Ian Pearson: The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno, wrote to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in his capacity as President of the General Affairs Council on 28 December 2005. He asked if the EU could consider making available a deterrent force which could be deployed, if necessary, to the Democratic Republic of Congo during the forthcoming election period. The EU is working with the UN on clarifying its requirements. An EU fact finding mission visited Kinshasa and New York last week.
	The UK believes that the EU should consider the UN request favourably. But the UK's ability to contribute to any EU mission will be constrained by its heavy operational commitments elsewhere.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much and what proportion of his Department's catering budget was spent on fairtrade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: During the 2004–05 financial year, £256,419 was spent on fairtrade products with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's catering contractor, in the UK. This represents 19 per cent. of the overall spend with the contractor during that period.
	Details for the overseas estate can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Details for Government hospitality are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the procurement of fairtrade produce for consumption on its premises.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) policy on the procurement of fairtrade produce is to ensure that fairtrade produce is available to purchase and the FCO will explore options to expand the variety of fairtrade options offered for sale, within the boundaries of good procurement practice—including value for money. Tea and coffee provided for official functions are fairtrade.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) maintains buildings in London and at Hanslope Park in Buckinghamshire. It is responsible for one executive agency, the Wilton Park Conference Centre, which maintains buildings in Sussex. The expenditure for each of these areas for the years requested is shown in the following table.
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(1) 
		
		
			 Buildings 
			 London 3,185,126.11 4,002,514.96 4,213,034.85 2,928,312.00 
			 Hanslope Park 956,842.67 589,299.48 1,169,837.24 1,239,319.00 
			 Wilton Park 158,620.00 170,552.00 184,120.00 151,880.00 
			  
			 Insurance 
			 London 0 0 0 0 
			 Hanslope Park 0 0 0 0 
			 Wilton Park 43,893 53,303 64,606 68,275 
		
	
	(1) Estimated
	The estimated figure for London buildings is lower than previous years as an additional £921,560 for the maintenance of the fabric of the buildings has been allocated in the mid-year review, but has not yet been allocated to individual buildings. This brings the total estimated spend to slightly below last year's actual spend.
	London and Hanslope Park buildings are not insured—the office acts as it's own insurer. The Wilton Park buildings are insured under the current lease agreement.
	The FCO also has responsibility for a number of non-departmental public bodies which have recorded expenditure on buildings and insurance in these financial years. The following expenditure was made in London.
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(2) 
		
		
			 Buildings 
			 British Council(3) 5,600,000 5,600,000 4,800,000 5,700,000 
			 Westminster Foundation for Democracy 41,824 89,402 50,028 88,004 
			 British Association for Central and Eastern Europe 32,787 30,583 34,139 31,363 
			 BBC World Service(3) 13,700,000 13,700,000 13,700,000 13,700,000 
			 Great Britain-China Centre 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Insurance 
			 British Council 0 0 0 0 
			 Westminster Foundation for Democracy 1,655 2,031 1,834 3,849 
			 British Association for Central and Eastern Europe 1,549 1,596 1,739 1,571 
			 BBC World Service(3) 300,000 300,000 300,000 300,000 
			 Great Britain-China Centre 977 1,031 815 818 
		
	
	(2) Estimated
	(3) The BBC World Service and British Council figures are approximate
	The British Council also maintains buildings in Manchester, which incurred the following expenditure.
	
		British Council(4) -- £
		
			  Buildings 
		
		
			 2002–03 2,200,000 
			 2003–04 2,700,000 
			 2004–05 2,500,000 
			 2005–06(5) 2,800,000 
		
	
	(4) Estimated
	(5) The BBC World Service and British Council figures are approximate
	No expenditure on buildings and insurance was recorded during this period for any other non-departmental public body for which the FCO has responsibility.

Departmental Functions

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are associated with the delivery of the (a) policy and service delivery function and (b) corporate function of his Department; and what the total salary costs were for each function in the last year for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: Staff numbers and costs are not collected in a way that would give the above information. Our Activity Based Management (ABM) system gives an allocation of cost and staff numbers to business objectives but these are not the same as policy, service delivery and corporate services.

Departmental Information

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on his Department's public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: We do not maintain this information centrally and in order to provide it each overseas post would need to identify each relevant accounts transaction for the past five years. The information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Detention Centres (US Flights)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2843W, on detention centres (US flights), what assessment he has made of differences between the UK Government's working definition of torture and that of the US Administration.

Kim Howells: In the UK, torture is defined in section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The Government do not have any other working definition" of torture. Any working definition" used by the US Government would be a matter of US law and practice. As a State Party to the UN Convention Against Torture, the US Government, like the UK Government, is obliged to prevent and to criminalise torture as defined in Article 1 of that Convention.

Family Member Permits

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which 10 of his Department's overseas diplomatic posts issued the greatest number of European economic area family member permits in 2004–05; and what checks were made on the eligibility of family members before they were issued.

Kim Howells: The following 10 overseas diplomatic posts issued the greatest number of European Economic Area (EEA) family permits in the financial year 2004–05:
	
		EEA family permits issued
		
			 Diplomatic post Number of permits 
		
		
			 Dusseldorf 6,661 
			 Paris 2,279 
			 Mumbai 1,752 
			 Amsterdam 1,505 
			 Brussels 915 
			 Madrid 903 
			 Oslo 891 
			 Geneva 836 
			 Stockholm 792 
			 Copenhagen 777 
		
	
	Further entry clearance statistics in addition to those provided can be found on the UK visas website at: www.ukvisas.gov.uk-'Entry Clearance: Facts and Figures'.
	Applicants for EEA family permits must show that they meet the requirements of the Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 in order to be granted entry clearance on that basis. An entry clearance officer (ECO) assessing an EEA family permit application must be satisfied in particular that the applicant is related as claimed to the EEA principal (the person in regards to whom the applicant is making their application) or the EEA principal's spouse. If the ECO has doubts about an application, he/she is entitled to interview the applicant and conduct further investigations until satisfied.
	In addition, the ECO will need to see evidence that the EEA principal is in or intends to travel to the UK, has an EEA passport and evidence of the EEA principal's employment in the UK or that they can be supported for the whole period of their stay.

Human Rights

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's most recent assessment is of the human rights situation in (a) Libya, (b) Eritrea, (c) Vietnam, (d) Turkmenistan and (e) Belarus; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government remain concerned about the human rights situation in Libya, Eritrea, Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Belarus.
	Libya
	The Government welcome the opening of a dialogue between the Libyan authorities and groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. We also welcome progress made in the joint programme on prison management between the Libyan Secretariat of Justice and the International Centre for Prison Studies, which was financed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund. We also welcome the abolition of the Revolutionary Courts, the recent debate in the Basic People's Congresses on the possible abolition or further restriction of the death penalty, and the release of 14 political prisoners in January 2006.
	Eritrea
	We monitor the human rights situation in Eritrea closely. The continuing detention of members of minority religious groups and the arrest and detention without charge of journalists and prominent members of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice since 18 September 2001 are of grave concern to us and the international community. We regularly raise these concerns with the Eritrean Government.
	Vietnam
	Vietnam has made substantial progress in terms of economic and social rights over recent decades. However, it has, despite some recent progress, a poor record with regard to civil and political rights.
	The UK, with our EU partners, is pursuing an increasingly open dialogue with the Vietnamese Government on human rights, particularly at the twice-yearly meetings of the EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue. The EU has concerns with regard to the right to a fair trial, freedom of the press, of expression, of information, of assembly, of association, and of religion, the death penalty, and the treatment of ethnic minorities. The EU also maintains a list of prisoners/detainees of concern in Vietnam, whose cases are brought up regularly with the Vietnamese authorities.
	Turkmenistan
	The Turkmen Government have made some progress in addressing human rights issues but, as noted in the UN Secretary-General's report on human rights in Turkmenistan of September 2005, there is still a lack of overall improvement in addressing serious human rights violations.
	On the positive side, Turkmenistan has acceded to three further UN protocols and conventions, including those on the Rights of the Child, more minority religious groups have been allowed to worship for the first time, and exit visas as a requirement for leaving the country have been abolished.
	However, a number of areas of concern remain. The Government of Turkmenistan continue to restrict freedom of thought, conscience, expression, movement, religion or belief. Conditions in Turkmen prisons remain poor and credible reports of mistreatment of detainees persist.
	In November 2005, together with our EU partners, we supported a Resolution on Turkmenistan in the UN's Third Committee. This Resolution comprehensively covered the points of progress and of continuing concern and encouraged the Government of Turkmenistan to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
	Belarus
	We are deeply concerned at the poor human rights situation in Belarus and continue to raise these concerns with the Belarusian authorities both bilaterally and together with EU partners. We regret in particular the continued harassment of non-governmental organisations, including legal action against the Belarus-Helsinki Committee, and amendments to the civil and penal codes that can be used to stifle further free speech ahead of the 19 March presidential elections. EU Foreign Ministers discussed Belarus again at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 30 January 2006. Conclusions were issued which reiterated the EU's deep concern at the deteriorating situation in respect of democracy, human rights and political freedoms in Belarus and called on the Belarusian authorities to ensure that the Presidential elections on 19 March are conducted in a free and fair manner. We will continue to press the Belarus authorities on these matters.
	The Government, with the international community and other stake holders, will continue to work with the Libyan, Eritrean, Vietnamese, Turkmen and Belarus authorities to encourage them to move towards internationally accepted standards on human rights and the rule of law.

India

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timescale he expects for admitting India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Kim Howells: It is not possible to give a timescale on when India will be admitted as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government and its allies in Iraq have opened (a) direct and (b) indirect channels of dialogue with representatives of armed groups commonly referred to as the Iraqi insurgency.

Kim Howells: Our policy remains, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in June 2005, to bring as many people into the democratic process as possible. Iraq and its allies, including the UK, believe that an inclusive political process is critical for Iraq's future stability. To this end we maintain dialogue with all those who subscribe to this aim. There are elements of Iraqi society who appear to be irreconcilably opposed to the political process and determined to pursue their aims solely through violent means. We can have no dialogue with them.

Israel

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2852W, on Israel, if he will make it Government policy not to apologise in any case where someone from another country is arrested or threatened with arrest as a result of a warrant issued by a UK court following private prosecution under international law.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary apologised as a matter of courtesy to Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom.
	There are no plans to formulate a policy regarding when apologies are appropriate.

Ministerial Visits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits Ministers from his Department have made to UK Overseas Territories in the last five years, broken down by (a) date, (b) country and (c) Minister.

Douglas Alexander: Details of official visits by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers to each of the Overseas Territories in the last five years are as follows:
	Anguilla
	There is no record of any recent visits to Anguilla.
	Ascension Island
	November 2003: Bill Rammell, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, stopped briefly at Ascension Island on his way to the Falkland Islands.
	Bermuda
	18–20 July 2002: Baroness Amos, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
	British Antarctic Territory
	24–28 January 2001: Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the then Parliamentary Under-secretary of State.
	British Indian Ocean Territory
	There is no record of any recent visits to the British Indian Ocean Territory.
	British Virgin Islands
	2–4 September 2004: Bill Rammell, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
	Cayman Islands
	16–17 February 2003: Baroness Amos, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
	Falkland Islands
	26–29 November 2003: Bill Rammell, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
	Gibraltar
	3–4 July 2003: Dennis MacShane, the then Minister for Europe.
	3 May 2002: Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary.
	6 September 2001: Peter Hain, the then Minister for Europe.
	Montserrat
	21 December 2001: Baroness Amos, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
	Pitcairn Islands
	There is no record of any recent visits to the Pitcairn Islands.
	St. Helena
	There is no record of any recent visits to St. Helena.
	Tristan da Cunha
	There is no record of any recent visits to Tristan da Cunha.
	South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
	There is no record of any recent visits to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
	The Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus (Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
	There is no record of any recent visits to the Sovereign Base Areas.
	Turks and Caicos Islands
	18–19 December 2001: Baroness Amos, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

Non-proliferation (G8 Action Plan)

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in meeting the commitments to fund and expand the Global Partnership Against Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction contained in the G8 Action Plan on Non-proliferation of 10 June 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: As a result of the June 2004 Action Plan, a further US$14 million has been pledged to the Global Partnership from seven new donor countries. Progress has also been made in expanding the recipient base of the Global Partnership:
	During the UK G8 Presidency, discussions were held with nine countries of the former Soviet Union to discuss possible entry to the Global Partnership and to gather detailed information on potential projects;
	The US and UK have made progress in developing project proposals for the redirection of scientists in Iraq and Libya;
	A number of donors have also been in discussion with Ukraine concerning potential new projects.
	Furthermore, during the UK G8 Presidency in 2005 substantial progress was made on a number of key areas of Global Partnership implementation. Particular areas of success under UK-managed programmes include the establishment of a new nuclear security programme, securing additional international pledges of £210 million to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, significant progress on decontamination at Andreyeva Bay in NW Russia, one of the largest depositories of spent nuclear fuel in the world, and implementation of a further £4 million portfolio of projects to provide sustainable, non-weapons employment for former nuclear scientists and technicians.
	Full details of the UK programmes under the Global Partnership can be found in the 2005 Annual Report available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/index.shtml.

Palestine

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Palestinian Authority's security services since the Palestinian elections; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Palestinian Authority's security services have been undertaking their normal duties. It is important that the Palestinian security forces maintain law and order. Their ability, capacity, and will to do so remains in question. Wide-ranging security sector reform was vital before the elections and, it remains vital now.

Palestine

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Palestinian Authorities on the disarming of members of Hamas; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 735,
	'we have been equally clear that those who take part in the democratic process have a responsibility to reject violence. The result therefore presents Hamas with a very clear choice. Last Monday, 30 January, the Quartet agreed that all members of a future Palestinian Government must be committed to non-violence, to a recognition of Israel and to an acceptance of previous agreements, including the road map. We, along with our EU partners, will continue to work with the Palestinians, the Israelis and the international community to make progress on the road map, to which both the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Government remain committed.'

Palestine

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likelihood of Hamas militants being incorporated into the Palestinian Authority's security services; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have no indications at present of whether Hamas militants will be incorporated into the security services. We continue to monitor the situation closely with international partners.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 735,
	'we have been equally clear that those who take part in the democratic process have a responsibility to reject violence. The result therefore presents Hamas with a very clear choice. Last Monday, 30 January, the Quartet agreed that all members of a future Palestinian Government must be committed to non-violence, to a recognition of Israel and to an acceptance of previous agreements, including the road map. We, along with our EU partners, will continue to work with the Palestinians, the Israelis and the international community to make progress on the road map, to which both the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Government remain committed.'

Palestine

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Hamas militants in the Palestinian territories; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have not made a formal estimate of the number of Hamas militants in the Occupied Territories. The nature of the organisation, the problem of defining 'militants' and the fact that we have no contact with Hamas makes an estimate difficult.

Palestine

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether a cooperation agreement has been signed between the Palestinian Authority and the Iranian Government; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We are not aware of any cooperation agreements having being signed between the Palestinian Authority and Iran.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by him on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named.

Jack Straw: The figure for named day parliamentary questions formally transferred into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) from 1 February to 16 May 2005 cannot be produced using our current parliamentary questions management system. From 17 May 2005 to 31 January 2006, 20 named day questions were transferred out of the FCO for answer.
	From 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006, 389 named day questions received a substantive answer on the day named and 181 received a substantive answer after the day named.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by him in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: In the period 1 February 2005 to 31 January 2006, 2,373 ordinary written parliamentary questions (95 per cent.) were answered within 14 days and 107 in excess of 14 days. Our current parliamentary questions management system does not hold information that would allow us to break the latter figure down further.

Pensions Contributions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) paid the following amounts in Accruing Superannuation Liability Charges (ASLC) in the years in question:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 24,301,473 
			 2003–04 26,253,831 
			 2004–05 27,034,675 
		
	
	We estimate that our ASLC payment for 2005–06 will be about £37.5 million.
	Payments made by the non departmental public bodies for which the FCO is responsible were as follows:
	
		£
		
			  The British Council Westminster Foundation for Democracy Great Britain- China Centre British Association for Central and Eastern Europe BBC World Service 
		
		
			 2002–03 5,351,489 59,523 13,026 15,699 1,700,000 
			 2003–04 5,726,288 73,227 23,681 16,532 2,100,000 
			 2004–05 6,193,803 67,598 20,989 17,580 2,600,000 
			 2005–06 (6)8,363,803 (6)99,876 (6)29,394 (6)18,500 (6)3,100,000 
		
	
	(6) Estimated cost.
	Diplomatic Service Appeals Board
	Holders of these positions receive a daily fee. No deduction is made for pension purposes and no pension contribution costs have therefore been incurred.
	Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine and Wilton Park Academic Council
	Holders of these positions are unpaid, and no pension contribution costs have therefore been incurred.
	Foreign Compensation Committee
	No expenditure has been incurred in each of the last financial three years and none is planned for 2005–06.
	Costs for the FCO's Executive Agency, Wilton Park, are included within the overall figures for the FCO.
	The FCO does not identify its administrative costs by area.

South Georgia Council

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  when the South Georgia Council last met; and who attended;
	(2)  who sits on the South Georgia Council; how often it meets; and where it holds its meetings.

Douglas Alexander: South Georgia has no permanent population and therefore no Council. The Territory is governed by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as established under the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Order 1985. The head of Government is a Commissioner based in Stanley, Falkland Islands. The Governor of the Falkland Islands is the current Commissioner.

Sudan

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Sudan's Darfur region; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We remain very concerned about the security situation in Darfur. In his latest report the UN Secretary-General notes that December saw a continuation at very high levels of violence and banditry, with both the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) flouting the ceasefire declarations they have signed. Reports indicate that in January high levels of violence continued, but that the SLM/A have been responsible for initiating a greater number of ceasefire violations.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Dr. Lam Akol, on 3 February where they made clear that this situation is entirely unacceptable and that urgent steps must be taken to improve security. They underlined that the Government expect full compliance by the Government of Sudan and all allied forces with provisions of the N'djamena ceasefire agreement, the Abuja Security and Humanitarian protocols and the UN Security Council Resolutions on Sudan. They also stressed that we expect the Government of Sudan to co-operate actively with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). During the meeting, Dr. Akol agreed that the Government of Sudan would exempt AMIS from the night-time curfew in Darfur. We are also making clear that all other armed movements in Darfur, particularly the SLM/A and the Justice and Equality Movement must adhere to these conditions.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral preparations the Government have made to provide assistance to Zimbabwean refugees should they enter Zimbabwe's neighbouring countries in large numbers.

Ian Pearson: We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of the deteriorating political, economic and social conditions in Zimbabwe. We make repeated representations to the states in the region about the actual and potential impact of the ongoing crisis.
	We continue to support the work of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and other international organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in providing adequate assistance to Zimbabwean refugees wherever they may be. The UK's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, has raised our concern about the Zimbabwe crisis at the UN Security Council and made clear the responsibility of governments to provide the World Food Programme, and all humanitarian agencies and NGOs, with full co-operation and access to those in need.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Consultants

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by her Department in 2004–05, excluding its non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 6 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1094–1096W.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much and what proportion of her Department's catering budget was spent on fair trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The Department does not collect and record data on Fair Trade produce.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on the procurement of fairtrade produce for consumption on its premises.

David Lammy: There are no Government wide approach to the procurement of fairtrade products. Each Government Department are responsible for making its own decisions on such products, against the background of the Government's value for money policy, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. We have encouraged our catering contractors to use fairtrade products wherever possible.

Departmental Entertainment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on entertainment by her Department in 2004–05, broken down by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

David Lammy: Departmental expenditure, including associated staff costs, on entertainment, including working breakfasts or lunches, refreshment at meetings and official entertainment during 2004–05 was £97,803.39.
	The Department's accounting system does not record information by the categories requested and it can be obtained only as disproportional cost.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental Works of Art

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether works of art other than those stolen in August 2001 from the temporary residence of the ambassador in Buenos Aires have been stolen from departmental buildings since 1997.

David Lammy: The Government Art Collection has not found or been advised of any theft of its works of art from 1997 to 2006 other than the loss from Buenos Aires in 2001.
	The Government Art Collection makes regular physical and postal inventory checks of its works of art on loan to several hundred major Government buildings in the UK and around the world, in order to ensure that the works are accounted for and that any incidents resulting in loss or damage are reported. This necessarily relies upon the advice of the members of staff in these buildings.

Digital Broadcasting

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her Department's policy to provide for the reception of a digital signal via a second set where an individual qualifies for Government support in the process of digital switchover.

James Purnell: Assistance will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over and to households with people with severe disabilities. This will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one TV set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment. More details will be announced later.

Film Production

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when she will announce the co-production guidelines for UK-qualifying films;
	(2)  whether the new co-production guidelines for UK-qualifying films will supersede existing bilateral national treaties; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Following a comprehensive review of the UK's film co-production treaties my Department, with the UK Film Council, is in the process of renegotiating its co-production treaties with Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France and establishing new co-production treaties with South Africa, India, China, Jamaica and Morocco.
	Each treaty will need to be negotiated, agreed, signed and ratified by both governments before it can enter into force. Guidelines will be produced in time for a new treaty coming into force.
	It is envisaged that each of the treaties we have with our existing bi-lateral partners will continue in force until it is replaced with a renegotiated treaty.
	Negotiations are progressing well with all our partners, we have signed the main body of the Indian co-production treaty and are now working on the Annex to the agreement and Statements of Intent to progress our new treaties have been signed with South Africa, China, India and Morocco.

Gymnasiums (Disabled Access)

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commission research on funding by local authorities to provide disabled user access to council-run gymnasia.

Richard Caborn: DCMS will not be commissioning research but local authorities have contributed funding to the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI), which has also benefited from significant lottery funding. The IFI aims to improve opportunities for disabled people to access fitness gyms and 180 public sector, not-for-profit sites will be operational by spring 2006. In addition to this, the culture block of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment should challenge local authorities to provide decent sport and leisure facilities for all their residents, disabled and non-disabled alike.

Leisure Centres

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the implications for capital investment in community sports facilities of the transfer of ownership of leisure centres from local authorities to newly-formed charitable trusts.

Richard Caborn: Specific information on the transfer of ownership of leisure centres from local authorities to newly-formed charitable trusts is not centrally collated. However, information from the Leisure Database Company suggests that approximately one-fifth of public leisure facilities in England are provided through trusts.
	My Department recognise the importance of this issue in ensuring the continued sustainability of publicly provided sports facilities. The Audit Commission is currently undertaking a study into the different types of management arrangements available to local authorities for running these services and how they approach the task of choosing the option best suited to local needs. This is expected to include a consideration of the potential implications of each of these options, including for charitable trusts.
	I will ensure a copy of the study is placed in the House Libraries once it is published.

Licensing

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to publish her review of the guidance on the Licensing Act 2003 which was given to local authorities and the police.

James Purnell: Our review of the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 commenced on 1 December 2005 and will be in two stages. An initial review focussing on issues where there is a high degree of consensus among stakeholders will be completed and supplementary guidance laid before Parliament in early spring 2006.
	A comprehensive formal review of the guidance including a full public consultation will be completed by summer 2006 and a revised version will be laid before Parliament by the end of 2006. This comprehensive review will include consideration of matters that cannot be easily resolved during the initial review.

Licensing

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications have been granted for 24-hour sale of alcohol licences in (a) South Yorkshire and (b) Doncaster North constituency.

James Purnell: This information is not held centrally, but should be available from local licensing authorities.
	The Department has collected survey material concerning 24-hour licences in England and Wales generally, but does not hold specific information about the majority of licensing authorities.

Licensing

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the organisations that responded to the Gambling Commission consultation paper Statement of Principles on Licensing and Regulation.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Commission received 69 responses from organisations to its Statement of Principles on Licensing and Regulation consultation document as listed. There were a further eight responses from individuals. The Commission are planning to publish a revised Statement of Principles in April 2006 and to publish a summary of responses received in due course.
	Organisations
	192.com Business Services
	ACPO
	ACPOS
	Advertising Standards Authority
	Association of British Bookmakers
	Association of Greater Manchester licensing managers' group
	BackAndLay.com Ltd.
	Betfair
	Bracknell Forest Borough Council
	British Amusement and Catering Trades Association
	British Beer and Pub Association
	British Casino Association
	British Holiday and Home Parks Association
	British Horseracing Board
	British Institute of Innkeeping
	Business in Sport and Leisure Ltd.
	Camelot Group plc
	Casino Machine Manufacturers' Group
	Casino Operators' Association
	City of Westminster Council
	Community Trade Union
	East Herts Council
	Evangelical Alliance
	Gateshead Council
	GB Group plc
	Glasgow Licensing Board
	GMB Union
	Harbottle and Lewis LLP
	Harrah's Entertainment Inc.
	HMRC
	Hospice Lotteries Association
	Huntingdonshire District Council
	ICSTIS
	Institute of Professional Sport
	Interactive Gaming Council
	Justices' Clerks' Society
	Kerzner International UK
	Kroopier Technologies
	Lancaster City Council
	Leisure and Gaming plc
	Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services
	London Borough of Havering
	Lotteries Council
	Magistrates' Association
	Maldon District Council
	Methodist Church
	MGM Mirage
	Mitchells and Butlers plc
	Mobile Broadband Group
	NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service
	National Association of Licensing and Enforcement Officers
	National Joint Pitch Council
	New Forest District Council
	OFT
	Prime Table Games UK
	Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs
	Rank Group Gaming Division
	Remote Gambling Association
	Responsibility in Gambling Trust
	Royal College of Psychiatrists
	Salvation Army
	Satellite Information Services Ltd.
	Shuffle Master Inc.
	Slough Borough Council
	T&G Union
	The Bingo Association
	The Jockey Club
	UC Group Ltd.

Licensing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has issued on whether businesses which are in the vicinity of a licensed premises may be classed as interested parties and object to a licensing application.

James Purnell: Under paragraph 5.32 of the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, a person involved in a business in the vicinity of the premises in question, or a body representing persons involved in such businesses, is entitled to make representations to licensing authorities as an 'interested party'. It is for a licensing authority to determine whether or not a representation has been made by an 'interested party'. We are considering as part of our review of the guidance whether we can improve the guidance in this area.

Licensing

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has received (a) complaints and (b) representations from (i) local authorities and (ii) sports and leisure bodies about the level of licence fees under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: We have received differing views from local authorities and sports and leisure bodies about the level of licensing fees under the Licensing Act 2003.
	In order to consider these and other representations, I have put in place an Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel whose remit is to assess how well the existing arrangements are working. Sir Les Elton chairs the Panel, which includes representatives from local government. The Panel's interim findings were published on 5 December. Among other matters, the Panel found that there was insufficient information available to conclude whether or not fees had been set at the right level.
	The Panel's final report will be delivered in the autumn, although Sir Les has been asked to focus as a priority on local authority licensing fee income and costs, and if possible report back earlier. I have given an undertaking that the fees regime will meet the full costs of local authorities in carrying out their legitimate responsibilities efficiently under the 2003 Licensing Act, within a national system.

Online Gambling

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regulation is applicable to companies who are registered abroad, pay no tax in the UK, but advertise their online gambling and betting services in this country.

Richard Caborn: Gambling companies that are based abroad but advertise on-line gambling in the UK are regulated by Section 42 of the Gaming Act 1968, which restricts the content of advertising relating to gaming, and by section 9 of the Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1981 which prohibits, with some exceptions, advertising by off-shore betting operators.

Playing Fields

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many playing fields are listed on the Sport England Domesday Book of Sports Facilities, Active Places; and how many of the sports grounds are owned by (a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) health authorities and (c) universities and colleges of higher education.

Richard Caborn: Sport England advise that there are approximately 50,000 grass pitches on the Active Places database, of which (a) 252 (across 97 sites) are owned by the Ministry of Defence, (b) 31 (across 20 sites) belong to health authorities and (c) 1,182 (across 166 sites) are owned by higher education institutions. The majority of sites on the database are owned by educational establishments and local authorities. The number of grass pitches listed will increase as more information is added to the database.

Press Coverage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since 1 April 2003 she has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of (a) Ministers or officials and (b) her Department; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

James Purnell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not made any complaints to the PCC. It is for individuals to decide whether they wish to make a complaint. She is not, generally, in a position to determine whether an article about others has breached the editors' Code of Practice; the PCC exists to make that determination. Moreover, she would not presume to make a complaint on behalf of anyone else, particularly as everyone has equal access to the PCC.

Shipwrecks

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the value of artefacts on shipwrecks around the coast of the British Isles.

David Lammy: The concept of value is difficult to define when applied to cultural property. Intrinsic value is only one factor alongside aesthetic, community, evidential and historical values.
	58 historic wrecks have been designated in the UK under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. These and their artefacts are considered to be of historical, archaeological, or artistic importance, and therefore worthy of protection.
	The total number of wrecks around the coast of the British Isles, and therefore the number and value of artefacts, is not known.
	English Heritage is currently developing a framework to assess heritage value as part of the stage one consultation on their Conservation Principles, which began on 9 February 2006. English Heritage has also supported the On the Importance of Shipwrecks research project under the Aggregates Levy Fund. The aim of the project is to develop a framework and methodology to assess the 'importance' of physical remains of wrecks on the seabed.

Shipwrecks

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department has taken to protect valuable artefacts and items of historical value on shipwrecks around the British Isles from theft.

David Lammy: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has power under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 to designate wreck sites which she is satisfied ought to be protected from unauthorised interference on account of their archaeological, historical or artistic importance. Once a site is designated, it is a criminal offence for a person to interfere with the site except under the authority of a licence. In addition any artefacts recovered from wrecks of over 50 years of age in UK territorial waters require an export licence if they were to leave the UK.
	Allegations of illegally excavated material are investigated in conjunction with the Receiver of Wreck, police and heritage agencies. Enforcement action is then taken in accordance with the severity of the offence.

Sport Participation

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect on participation levels in sport of the staging of major sporting events in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: We believe that staging major sporting events in the UK has the potential to drive up participation levels in sport.
	Research for UK Sport found that 7 per cent. of the adult UK population believed that the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002 had resulted in a positive impact on their participation in sport. Among children, the reported effect was greater. Household surveys conducted in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Blackburn and Congleton in summer 2003 found that in each area, at least 19 per cent. of children aged 6 to 15 said that the Games had had a positive effect on the amount of sport they were playing.

Sports Grounds

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what period of time sports grounds must remain unused before she can dispose of them without permission.

Richard Caborn: I have no statutory role in the disposal of sports grounds. Sport England is a statutory consultee on all planning applications affecting playing fields, land used as playing fields, or land allocated for use as playing fields in a current development plan. This includes being consulted on applications affecting any land that has been used as a playing field in the last five years and any replacement of a grass pitch with a synthetic surface.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has published planning guidance for open space, sport and recreation (PPG 17), which requires local planning authorities to protect all open space which communities need. In preparing their plans and policies, authorities should undertake assessments of need for open space and recreation in their areas. In advance of an assessment of need, local authorities should give very careful consideration to any planning applications involving development on playing fields.

Youth Hostels Association

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants have been given by (a) her Department and (b) lottery distributors to the Youth Hostels Association since 1997.

Richard Caborn: The Youth Hostels Association has received no funding from the Department but has been awarded £5,263,378 by the lottery distributors.
	This information is derived from the Department's lottery awards database, searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the lottery distributors.

NORTHERN IRELAND

24/27 Framework

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to each education board area of implementing the 24/27 entitlement framework.

Angela Smith: The arrangements necessary to ensure that all pupils have access to the range of academic and vocational courses under the new curricular entitlement framework will be developed locally by schools and colleges working together, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
	Schools have been encouraged to carry out an audit of their existing provision against the requirements of the entitlement framework and to consider future provision in the context of what is available within the local area. Until proposals are developed, it is not possible to determine what changes will be involved in a locality or any associated costs.
	£24.7 million has been allocated for the implementation of the new arrangements across Northern Ireland over the period 2005–06 to 2007–08, including work on piloting arrangements for cooperation and collaboration among schools and between schools and the further education sector.
	The pilots and any early proposals emerging will assist the Department of Education to estimate the future costs beyond March 2008 and will be the subject of further consideration during the next spending review.

Academic Selection

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what analysis the Department for Education Northern Ireland has made since 2000 of alternative models to the 11-plus test of post-primary academic selection; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: No such analysis has been undertaken by the Department of Education. The Post-Primary Review Body, established by the Department in 2000 to consider future arrangements for post-primary education in Northern Ireland, recommended that academic selection should end (Burns Report). The Post-Primary Review Working Group (Costello) established by the Department in 2003 was required to take account of the consultation on the Burns recommendations and to provide advice on options for new arrangements for post-primary education. It advised that no form of academic selection would remove the high-stakes, high-stress element and that academic selection at age 11 is itself educationally unsound, as this age is too young to commit pupils to particular pathways. Accepting the Costello Report's recommendations, the Government announced in January 2004 that academic selection would end and that the last Transfer Tests will take place in 2008.
	Future transfer arrangements will be on the basis of informed parental choice. Parents will have a broader assessment of their child's needs using the Pupil Profile and advice from schools. The new arrangements are about parents choosing schools not schools choosing pupils. They will give parents the right and responsibility to choose the school most appropriate to their child's needs.

Bottled Water

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on bottled water in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following figures represent the total cost of the provision of bottled water for the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its Agencies and NDPBs. The total cost includes water and the provision and maintenance of water coolers.
	The figures are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 19,150 
			 2001–02 22,754 
			 2002–03 19,071 
			 2003–04 25,761 
			 2004–05 29,939

Cattle (Pre-movement Testing)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with whom consultations were carried out prior to the decision to introduce pre-movement testing of cattle; how results are being monitored; by whom; and what research is planned to assess the impact of the change.

Angela Smith: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) consulted between July and October 2002 with a wide range of stakeholders about the proposal for brucellosis pre-movement testing, as part of its consultation about the 2002 Brucellosis Policy Review recommendations. The list of consultees who were specifically asked for views has been placed in the Library of the House. The decision to introduce compulsory pre-movement testing for brucellosis in Northern Ireland was announced on 16 June 2003.
	During 2004, DARD consulted widely again about the draft legislation needed to introduce the requirement to test. Compulsory pre-movement testing was introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 December 2004.
	The purpose of the measure is to assist in the detection of brucellosis and to help prevent disease spread by reducing the number of infected animals moving between farms. The measure also ensures compliance with the relevant EU legislation. Under Council Directive 64/432/EEC, pre or post-movement testing is required in a member state (or region thereof) where the percentage of bovines infected with brucellosis exceeds 0.2 per cent. during a two-year period.
	DARD monitors the results of pre-movement testing, using the information held on its Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS), as part of its overall management of the brucellosis control programme. The effectiveness of pre-movement testing as a disease control measure is assessed on an on-going basis as part of this monitoring activity. DARD plans to review the impact of the existing control measures on the incidence of brucellosis as part of its next formal review of brucellosis control policy.
	No decision has been made in Northern Ireland to introduce compulsory pre-movement testing for bovine TB.

Child Safety

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Government are taking to improve child safety on streets in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Child safety is a priority for Government and is at the core of a number of key strategies across Departments and agencies. The 10-year strategy for Children and Young People will provide an overarching framework within which we will deliver on a number of outcomes for children and young people, including child safety. The strategy will be delivered through a programme of strategic actions, which will include: a road safety strategy aimed at reducing fatal and serious casualties among children; education and training in schools; safety promotion and awareness campaigns targeted at children; implementation of traffic calming measures; programmes to address antisocial behaviour, vandalism and crime related measures; and multi-agency arrangements to assess and manage the risks posed by sex offenders living in the community. Finally, safeguarding children is a subject that is actively being considered by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People.

Costello Report

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses to the Government's public consultation on the Costello report proposals indicated opposition to the decision to prohibit academic selection.

Angela Smith: The remit of the Post-Primary Review Working Group required it to take account of the responses to the multi-stranded consultation on the Burns recommendations, including the diversity of views on academic selection. The advice from the group (the Costello report) was not published for consultation and responses were not therefore sought on its content.

Defibrillators

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many defibrillators there are in public places in each district council area in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of defibrillators in public places is not available as there is no central control of their purchase and distribution. Only a proportion of those currently provided in public places are funded by government agencies.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by his Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

Shaun Woodward: Gross salary figures for the years in question are as follows:
	
		
			  Gross salary costs (£) Total departmental budget (percentage) 
		
		
			 1997–98 14,570,692 1.5 
			 1998–99 14,578,075 1.5 
			 1999–2000 14,535,166 1.4 
			 2000–01 14,983,634 1.3 
			 2001–02 16,629,446 1.4 
			 2002–03 18,750,356 1.4 
			 2003–04 20,826,798 1.8 
			 2004–05 22,507,780 1.8

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office has a pay scale which is applied equally to staff working in Belfast and London.
	Separately, a London allowance is paid to London based staff to aid recruitment and retention and to reflect the higher cost of living. There are no plans to change the London allowance.
	A London allowance is paid to staff in the senior civil service at Payband 1 and it remained at £3,500 in 2005. Staff in Paybands 2 and 3 are not eligible for payment of the London allowance.
	The London allowance for staff below the senior civil service was increased from £3,875 to £4,000 as part of the 2005 pay settlement. This met the PCS claim for the London allowance.

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many departmental employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The number of Northern Ireland Office staff who retired due to ill health in each of the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000–01 5 
			 2001–02 5 
			 2002–03 6 
			 2003–04 5 
			 2004–05 9

Hospital Waiting Times

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time in accident and emergency has been at (a) Antrim area hospital and (b) Whiteabbey area hospital in each month since March 2005.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows.
	(a) The average waiting times from patient arrival in the accident and emergency department in Antrim area hospital to examination by a clinician from April 2005 to January 2006 are presented in the following table:
	
		Antrim area hospital
		
			  Average waiting time in A & E from arrival to examination 
		
		
			 April 2005 1 hour 
			 May 2005 1 hour 9 minutes 
			 June 2005 1 hour 6 minutes 
			 July 2005 1 hour 1 minute 
			 August 2005 53 minutes 
			 September 2005 1 hour 9 minutes 
			 October 2005 1 hour 7 minutes 
			 November 2005 1 hour 7 minutes 
			 December 2005 58 minutes 
			 January 2006 1 hour 4 minutes 
		
	
	Source:
	United Hospitals Group HSS Trust
	(b) The average waiting times from patient arrival in the accident and emergency department in Whiteabbey hospital to examination by a clinician from April 2005 to January 2006 are presented in the following table:
	
		Whiteabbey hospital
		
			  Average waiting time in A & E from arrival to examination 
		
		
			 April 2005 42 minutes 
			 May 2005 52 minutes 
			 June 2005 53 minutes 
			 July 2005 42 minutes 
			 August 2005 36 minutes 
			 September 2005 32 minutes 
			 October 2005 37 minutes 
			 November 2005 31 minutes 
			 December 2005 35 minutes 
			 January 2006 36 minutes 
		
	
	Source:
	United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office is committed to promoting a culture in which difference is appreciated, valued and respected and individuals are given the space to celebrate their own identity, including their religious identity, while respecting the views of others.
	An event to celebrate a range of significant religious and cultural days, including Hanukkah, was held in 2005 and the Department aims to facilitate staff who wish to celebrate such events. The Department also promotes an awareness of different religious identities through its sponsorship of a multi-faith calendar. The theme of the 2006 calendar is the practice of prayer and it highlights the significant religious days of each of the major religious traditions.

Laurelhill Community College

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of the (a) case and (b) compensation paid was in the recent Laurelhill Community College dispute in Lisburn, County Antrim.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) The Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board has informed me that she is not in a position at this stage to respond to the question of the cost of recent defamation proceedings taken by the teacher involved against the Chairman of the Board of Governors at Laurelhill Community College. The Board has not yet received bills of costs from the plaintiff's solicitor nor has it received fee notes from its own Counsel.
	(b) The teacher involved was awarded compensation of £7,500 following the recent joint consultation which took place at the High Court.

NHS Staff

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to health and social services boards of implementing UK-wide changes in NHS staff pay and conditions in 2005–06; and what the expected cost is for 2006–07.

Shaun Woodward: In the current year 2005–06 the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has allocated to each health and social services board the following amounts in implementing the Agenda for Change Agreement for staff in the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Board Amount allocated (£) 
		
		
			 Eastern 30,645,592 
			 Northern 10,078,041 
			 Southern 9,134,583 
			 Western 7,889,835 
			 Total 57,748,051 
		
	
	The DHSSPS has secured funding of £70 million to meet the anticipated cost for 2006–07.
	The DHSSPS has also allocated the following amounts to health and social services boards to meet the salary commitments arising from the new consultant contract.
	
		
			 Board Amount allocated (£) 
		
		
			 Eastern 13,930,496 
			 Northern 3,371,550 
			 Southern 2,971,944 
			 Western 3,512,651 
			 Total 23,786,641 
		
	
	The DHSSPS has secured funding of around £27.3 million to meet the anticipated costs for 2006–07.

Planning Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the budget was for the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000; and what funding has been allocated for each of the next five years.

Angela Smith: The budget for the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000 is set out in Table A as follows.
	
		Table A: Budget allocation between 2000–01 and 2005–06 -- £ million
		
			 Financial year Current expenditure Capital investment 
		
		
			 2000–01 7.1 0.6 
			 2001–02 8.9 0.6 
			 2002–03 10.1 0.8 
			 2003–04 14.3 1.0 
			 2004–05 13.9 0.7 
			 2005–06 14.5 4.3 
		
	
	The funding allocated to Planning Service for the next two years is set out in Table B as follows. Information is not yet available on funding to be allocated from 2008–09 onwards.
	
		Table B: Budget allocation for 2006–07 and 2007–08 -- £ million
		
			 Financial year Current expenditure Capital investment 
		
		
			 2006–07 11.9 0.6 
			 2007–08 10.9 0.6

Planning Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultation is undertaken by the Northern Ireland Planning Service with the Department for Regional Development's (a) Water and (b) Road Service in considering submissions for new residential developments.

Angela Smith: In determining any planning application for residential development the Planning Service consults with the Department of Regional Development's Water Service and Roads Service. The purpose of the consultation is to seek advice on issues relevant to the determination of planning applications such as the provision of drinking water supply, waste water disposal, safe access and the proper layout and adoption of public roads.

Planning Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been employed by the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement on the future staff recruitment needs of the Service.

Angela Smith: Details of the staffing breakdown for the Planning Service in each year since 2000 are as follows.
	The Planning Service has just completed a major recruitment exercise and will keep the need for additional staff resources under continual review.
	
		Planning Service staff in post
		
			  As at 1 April: 
			 Date 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 at 1 February 2006 (current ) 
		
		
			 Grade
			 Grade 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Grade 5 2 2 1 3 4 3 3 
			 Grade 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 11 
			 Principal Professional and Technology Officer 17 17 25 26 35 37 40 
			 Senior Professional and Technology Officer 42 55 50 78 86 79 91 
			 Higher Professional and Technology Officer 76 99 103 103 115 155 164 
			 Professional and Technology Officer 84 97 111 123 148 140 161 
			 Technical Grade 1 11 4 7 5 6 5 5 
			 Technical Grade 2 1 5 2 1 1 — — 
			 Trainee Planning Assistant 11 6 17 14 26 24 35 
			 Principal 5 5 4 4 6 7 7 
			 Deputy Principal 9 13 13 14 21 20 22 
			 Senior Systems Analyst — — — — — — 1 
			 Systems Analyst — — — — — — 2 
			 Staff Officer 12 9 15 14 18 20 25 
			 Executive Officer l 10 10 11 14 13 23 22 
			 Executive Officer 2 13 16 18 26 29 37 39 
			 Administrative Officer 64 76 76 79 87 106 117 
			 Administrative Assistant 48 53 65 73 61 71 98 
			 Typing Manager 2 2 1 1 — — — 
			 Personal Secretary 9 8 9 10 9 10 10 
			 Typist 9 8 7 7 6 7 6 
			 Support Grade 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 
			 Student 2 — 2 — — — — 
			 Total 440 498 550 609 686 758 864

Planning Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning submissions were received by the Northern Ireland Planning Service in each year since 2000, broken down by Service district.

Angela Smith: Details of the number of planning applications received, set out by Planning Service division, in each of the last five years are as follows.
	
		
			 Division 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(7) 
		
		
			 Ballymena 3,160 3,352 4,000 5,328 4,971 3,343 
			 Belfast 3,442 3,821 3,592 3,840 3,862 2,762 
			 Craigavon 4,986 5,309 6,060 7,493 6,845 5,056 
			 Downpatrick 4,120 4,457 5,001 5,036 6,090 3,554 
			 Londonderry(8) 3,093 3,410 3,556 4,348 4,969 3,410 
			 Omagh(9) 4,828 4,834 5,500 6,799 9,205 7,169 
			 Headquarters 92 135 198 196 342 234 
			 Total 23,721 25,318 27,907 33,040 36,284 25,528 
		
	
	(7) Up to 31 December 2005.
	(8) Includes Coleraine Sub-Divisional Planning Office.
	(9) Includes Enniskillen Sub-Divisional Planning Office.

Post-primary Education

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the effect on public expenditure of the proposals for post-primary education in the Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order; what estimate he has made of the period of time it would take to realise the estimated charges of those savings; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the (a) gross and (b) net cost to public funds of implementing the proposals for post-primary education embodied in the Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order.

Angela Smith: The focus of the new post-primary arrangements is on the educational needs of the child. The new arrangements will be implemented locally by schools and school managing authorities working together, taking account of local needs and circumstances. Until local arrangements are developed the financial implications cannot be assessed. £24.7 million has been made available over the period 2005–06 to 2007–08 to support the preparation for, and phased introduction of, key elements of the new post-primary arrangements.
	On 31 January 2006 the Secretary of State announced an independent review of education spending as well as the planning of the school estate and the effect of falling school rolls. The outcome of this review and the implementation of the new post-primary arrangements will result in a more effective and efficient education system for the benefit of all pupils.

Prostate Cancer

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change in the numbers of those diagnosed with prostate cancer in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table details the number of incidences of prostate cancer (ICD-10 C61) in Northern Ireland since 1994.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1994 481 
			 1995 510 
			 1996 452 
			 1997 485 
			 1998 492 
			 1999 493 
			 2000 574 
			 2001 543 
			 2002 648 
			 2003 715 
		
	
	This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up-to-date currently available.

Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal guidance on the assessment and valuation of domestic properties produced by the Valuation and Lands Agency for the rates revaluation in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Yes.

Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) value significant codes and (b) property attribute types that the computer assisted mass appraisal system being used in Northern Ireland rates revaluation has the capacity to store and evaluate.

Angela Smith: A full list of data fields relating to value significant codes and property attributes which are stored and evaluated by the computer assisted mass appraisal system being used in Northern Ireland will be placed in the Library.

Statins

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to make statins available free to patients with high cholesterol in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Statins are currently available on health service prescription in Northern Ireland. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recently published detailed guidance recommending the use of statins for treating adults with cardiovascular disease and adults at risk of this disease. My Department will be reviewing this guidance and will advise the health and personal social services on its applicability to Northern Ireland.

Teaching Staff (Absenteeism)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the absenteeism rate was in 2005 among teaching staff at (a) controlled and (b) maintained schools in each of the Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The rate of absenteeism among teaching staff in the academic year September 2004 to August 2005 at (a) controlled and (b) maintained schools in each of the five Education and Library Boards in Northern is detailed as follows.
	
		
			 Board area School type Number of full time Teachers Number of working days available Number of sick days % of working days lost (absence rate) 
		
		
			 BELB Controlled 1,627 317,265 11,659 3.67 
			  Maintained 1,476 287,820 12,950 4.50 
			 WELB Controlled 1,493 291,135 11,544 3.97 
			  Maintained 1,756 342,420 17,334 5.06 
			 NEELB Controlled 2,625 511,875 20,101 3.93 
			  Maintained 1,028 200,460 9,523 4.75 
			 SEELB Controlled 2,512 489,840 20,204 4.12 
			  Maintained 894 174,330 6,909 3.96 
			 SELB Controlled 1,981 386,295 15,424 3.99 
			  Maintained 1,879 366,405 23,098 6.30

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of his Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: There have been no recorded acts of vandalism, which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of Northern Ireland Office buildings in the last 12 months. This information does not include the Department's Agencies and NDPBs.

WALES

Robert Powell

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry into the death of Robert Powell of Swansea on 17 April 1990 of Addison's disease.

Peter Hain: The responsibility in this instance rests with the National Assembly for Wales. The First Minister is currently considering whether a public inquiry should be held or what other steps if any should be taken.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clerical Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what provision the Pension Board has made for the retention of pension rights for partners of those clergy who have entered into a civil partnership.

Stuart Bell: All pension schemes are required by the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and the regulations made under that Act to provide benefits for a civil partner following the death of the scheme member on the same basis as for widows and widowers in respect of all pensionable service from December 2005.
	The Pensions Board will of course comply with those requirements in respect of the schemes that it administers and scheme rules have been amended accordingly.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many of the Church Commissioners' staff are paid on a performance-related basis.

Stuart Bell: None.

Tenants

Desmond Swayne: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what measures the Commissioners are taking to expedite the transfers of their tenants who cause a nuisance to their neighbours.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners experience very few occasions of nuisance on their estates. If this arises they will seek to resolve the matter with the parties concerned. On the very rare occasions where this is unsuccessful, they reserve the right in leases to take legal action to protect the interests of all residents, and do so when necessary.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Barristers

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list the 10 barristers instructed to prosecute on behalf of the Crown who received the highest sums for this work in the last financial year; how much each received; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officers have ministerial responsibility for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office. The Law Officers do not have ministerial responsibility for the other prosecuting authorities. The 10 barristers instructed to prosecute on behalf of the Crown by the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office and Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office who were paid the highest sums for this work in the financial year ending 31 March 2005 and the amounts paid are:
	
		
			  Counsel Amount paid in last financial year including VAT (£) 
		
		
			 Richard Horwell 568,253.63 
			 Mark Dennis 566,981.08 
			 Jonathan Laidlaw 540,885.02 
			 Nigel Ingram 509,894.21 
			 Brian Altman 485,065.55 
			 David Cocks, QC 474,935.25 
			 Nicholas Milliard 448,861.83 
			 Richard Lissack, QC 429,124.73 
			 Aftab Jafferjee 409,451.46 
			 Patrick Harrington, QC 391,139.01 
		
	
	A number of qualifications need to be added to these figures:
	The amount paid to barristers in one financial year is not necessarily reflective of the work carried out during that year. Payment may take place during or some time after the work, including in different years, and Departments have different payment practices.
	The figures must be interpreted carefully and do not represent the personal earnings of the barristers listed—figures are inclusive of VAT and disbursements incurred. After VAT has been deducted, barristers will typically pay 25–30 per cent. of fees in professional expenses. Additionally, barristers face the same expenses as any other self-employed person, including income tax and national insurance contributions.
	Not all payments could be verified with the individuals concerned. Cases in dispute, where records of payments held by the Departments differ to those held by the practitioners, have been included. Where possible, amounts have been verified by practitioners and adjusted where necessary. Records may differ due to the inevitable lag caused by the post and bank clearing services.

Crown Prosecution Service

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the (a) role and (b) effectiveness of the involvement of the Crown Prosecution Service in determining delayed charge bail cases in Northamptonshire.

Mike O'Brien: Under the statutory charging arrangements, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is responsible for making the charging decision in all but minor and routine cases. The aims of the charging scheme are a reduction in the rate of discontinuance, an increase in the guilty plea rate, and a reduction in the rate of attrition.
	In some cases, where there is insufficient evidence available to make an immediate charging decision, delay charge bail is used to ensure that the investigative process is complete before the charging decision is given. This approach has ensured a steady reduction of post-charge discontinuance rates and decisions of 'No Further Action' in Northamptonshire.
	The police and CPS jointly performance manage the charging arrangements. This includes the management of delay charge bail to ensure that this is only used in appropriate cases and the number of cases on delay charge bail awaiting a charging decision does not increase month-on-month. This joint approach should lead to steady reduction of delay charge bail in the county.

Incitement to Murder

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions have been brought for incitement to murder in each year since 1995; and how many resulted in a conviction.

Mike O'Brien: The following table shows (a) the number of defendants who had proceedings commenced against them for the offence of soliciting to commit murder contrary to section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, or conspiracy to commit that offence, and (b) the number found guilty, in each year, of that specific offence, or conspiracy to commit that offence, for which figures are available.
	Some defendants proceeded against for soliciting to commit murder, or conspiracy to commit that offence, will have pleaded guilty or will have been found guilty of other offences. The following conviction figures do not include those other offences, and therefore understate the number of defendants who were convicted of an offence in each year.
	
		Defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for conspiring or soliciting to commit murder, 1994 to 2004(10)(11), England and Wales -- Number
		
			  Prosecuted Guilty 
		
		
			 1994 68 18 
			 1995 53 12 
			 1996 69 7 
			 1997 50 15 
			 1998 58 14 
			 1999 97 13 
			 2000 75 18 
			 2001 71 7 
			 2002 82 13 
			 2003 63 29 
			 2004 59 10 
		
	
	(10) Data are on the principal offence basis.
	(11) Offences under section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and conspiracy to commit this offence under section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

Military Officer Promotions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Solicitor-General when the Attorney-General next plans to address military officers who have been identified as suitable for promotion to the highest levels; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: On 30 January the Attorney-General addressed military officers, attending the Higher Command and Staff Course organised by the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, on the International Legal Framework".
	There are no immediate plans for the Attorney-General further to address military officers who have been identified as suitable for promotion to the highest level but he will consider doing so where a suitable opportunity arises.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the EU animal welfare action plan for the UK; and what legislative changes will be required.

Ben Bradshaw: The Community Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals 2006–10 will provide a more strategic and joined up approach within the Commission and member states, so that animal welfare is improved. It includes a range of proposals, including legislation.
	We look forward to contributing to the development of the action plan.

Avian Influenza

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department is commissioning into a vaccine to cure avian influenza, with particular reference to the H5NI strain.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra is heavily involved with research into avian influenza. This includes making sure that the department's own research and development programme is tied into further work on vaccine development that the European Union and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council are taking forward; especially their recent, published call for new research proposals.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what vaccine is available for use in poultry to prevent avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: Currently available vaccines do not make vaccination effective or efficient as a disease control or prevention measure for avian influenza in the UK as, although vaccines are able to reduce mortality, it is likely that some vaccinated birds would still be capable of transmitting the disease if they became infected.
	However, as part of our readiness for a disease outbreak, and being conscious that there was no authorised vaccine available for AI, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has recently issued a Provisional Marketing Authorisation for the Nobilis vaccine, produced by Intervet. The use of any approved vaccine is also subject to European Community legislation on the control of avian influenza and would have to be specifically authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer. We are continuing to work closely with vaccine manufacturers to assess information on other vaccines.

Avian Influenza

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received (a) in favour of and (b) against vaccination of poultry against avian influenza.

Ben Bradshaw: We are engaging closely with a wide range of stakeholders on this issue.
	There is a broad consensus that preventive vaccination does not currently provide an effective and efficient means of controlling avian influenza. Good biosecurity followed by housing of birds is the best response to a heightened threat. There is a minority view that preventive vaccination for birds of high genetic value, birds in zoos, and free-range birds in areas of high risk should be considered as part of the overall control strategy.
	There is also an acceptance that emergency vaccination should be considered during an outbreak. This could form part of a wider disease control strategy but would also depend on the efficacy of the vaccines available. A plan for using vaccination would also have to be approved by the European Commission. We will continue to involve stakeholders in our consideration of these issues.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she will make available by the Independent Scientific Group to inform the current consultation on bovine TB policy; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Significant interim results from the proactive element of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) were published by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) in Nature on 14 December 2005. These, combined with other scientific evidence, including results of the Irish Four Area badger culling trial, led Government to conclude that consultation is needed to inform the decision on whether to introduce badger culling as a bovine TB control measure.
	Full results of the RBCT are still being collected and analysed by the ISG and have not yet been made available.

Bovine Tuberculosis

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what total Government expenditure on tackling TB in cattle was in each year since 1996–97, broken down by main area of expenditure.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		Breakdown of government expenditure on bovine tuberculosis -- £ million
		
			 Activity 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Cattle testing 5.79 5.49 6.61 17.6 13.3 (12)5.4 24.7 33.2 36.4 
			 Compensation 1.55 1.44 2.36 5.3 6.6 9.2 31.9 34.4 35.0 
			 Badger control/culling trial(13) 1.48 1.66 1.83 4.6 6.6 6.0 6.6 7.3 7.2 
			 Other research 1.69 1.72 2.48 3.8 5.3 6.1 6.5 7.0 5.7 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 1.40 1.62 1.85 2.4 3.5 3.7 4.1 5.3 4.9 
			 HQ/overheads 5.08 4.13 6.64 4.5 0.9 0.1 0.7 1.0 1.3 
			 Total 16.99 16.06 21.77 38.2 36.2 30.5 74.5 88.2 90.5 
		
	
	(12) Testing was suspended due to foot and mouth disease.
	(13) The culling trial was effective from 1999.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has provided to Shropshire farmers on bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: Our aim is to slow down and prevent the geographic spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) to areas currently free of the disease, and achieve a sustained reduction in disease incidence in cattle in high incidence areas like Shropshire.
	Defra has issued farmers with guidelines on measures to help stop bovine TB affecting their cattle. More information can be found on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/publications/index.htm.
	In December, we announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in England, including a public consultation on a badger culling policy in areas of high TB incidence in cattle, the introduction of pre-movement testing of cattle and changes to current compensation procedures.

Cattle Valuation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice she received on the variations in value of cattle by (a) breed and (b) pedigree.

Ben Bradshaw: New cattle compensation arrangements were introduced on 1 February 2006.
	The Department has obtained cattle sales data from a wide range of sources across Great Britain for the last 14 months. Analysis of these data has identified the degree of variation within each of the 47 cattle categories now used to determine compensation through our system of table valuation. And this approach will be repeated on an annual basis. No breed specific reviews have been carried out.

Compulsory Cattle Slaughter (Compensation)

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the compensation tables for cattle which have been compulsorily slaughtered do not provide values for pedigree beef bovines under six months of age.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Compensation categories have been drawn up with the assistance of industry advisers. There is no table value for pedigree cattle under six months. Animals that age would always be suckling, and it would be unusual to sell them without the dam.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2006, Official Report, column 2110W, on correspondence, if she will send the promised reply by 10 February.

Elliot Morley: A reply to my right hon. Friend was despatched on 7 February 2006.

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of her Department's employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Defra was created in June 2001, and the figures in the following table show the number of staff who have taken early retirement due to ill-health since then.
	
		
			  Number of staff 
		
		
			 2001(14) (15)5 
			 2002 16 
			 2003 19 
			 2004 13 
			 2005 16 
		
	
	(14) 9 June to 31 December.
	(15) Less than 5.
	The figure for 2001 is not specified on grounds of confidentiality.

Fallen Stock

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to review the fallen stock scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department commissioned an independent review of the scheme at the end of 2005, and a report is expected around Easter.

Kyoto Targets

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the Government have made towards meeting the Kyoto summit targets; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the targets are met.

Elliot Morley: The UK's commitment under the Kyoto protocol is to achieve a reduction of 12.5 per cent. of emissions in the basket of six greenhouse gases. The gases in the basket are carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O), plus the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride SF 6 . The reduction is to be achieved relative to base year emissions in 1990 for CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O, and in 1995 for the other gases. It applies to average emissions, weighted together using global warming potentials, over the first commitment period, 2008–12.
	Latest available figures indicate that, on this basis, UK greenhouse gas emissions were 14.6 per cent. lower in 2004 than the base year total. Policies and measures already in place, plus the additional policies and measures introduced as part of the current review of the UK's climate change programme, will achieve further reductions during the commitment period. This will ensure that the Kyoto commitment is met.

Quarantine Regulations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her review of quarantine regulations.

Ben Bradshaw: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the review of avian quarantine following publication of the independent report of quarantine procedures for captive birds (excluding poultry) in the UK in December 2005.
	The report contains 32 recommendations to improve the safeguards to animal and human health that the current avian quarantine system provides. We are looking carefully at all of the recommendations in close consultation with EU partners and other stakeholders. And we will implement any essential recommendations before imports of captive birds resume.

Stroud EU Life Bid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reasons were given for the rejection of the Stroud EU Life bid; and whether a new bid may be submitted to EU Life Plus.

Elliot Morley: Life-Environment is a Europe-wide programme to fund innovative demonstration projects that support the development of European environment policy.
	Selection of projects for co-financing is competitive as there are no national allocations in the Programme. Projects are evaluated by policy officers at the European Commission and a panel of independent experts. Projects are evaluated against a range of criteria using a point scoring system. In the 2004–05 application round €71 million was available to co-finance projects and the Commission received 534 bids, of which 88 (16 per cent.) were supported.
	The UK submitted 26 bids and 10 (35 per cent.) were co-financed. However, the bid submitted by Stroud did not score highly enough under the evaluation process to secure co-financing. The Commission advises applicants directly of the reasons for rejection.
	The full political process to agree the Life+ Regulation has yet to be completed but it is envisaged that in 2007 Life+ will replace the current Life Programme and a number of other funding programmes currently managed by DG-Environment in the European Commission. One major difference from the current arrangements will be that the Programme will be implemented at member state level through national annual work programmes, agreed by the European Commission. Until the details of the work programme are developed and approved, it is not possible to say if the Stroud bid would be eligible for support under the new Life+ Programme.

Waste Management

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 20W, on waste management, if she will break down the figures by local authority area.

Ben Bradshaw: Pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 20W, the results provided for both commercial and industrial waste at regional level cannot be broken down to local authority level.
	The amount of municipal waste disaggregated by disposal method is only available for local authorities with a responsibility for municipal waste disposal. Therefore figures for disposal and unitary local authorities for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 from the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey have been placed in the Library of the House.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many of his Department's staff are paid on a performance-related basis.

Jim Murphy: All Cabinet Office employees are rewarded based on their performance. Annual salary increases reflect overall performance and bonuses are available to reward delivery of specific outcomes.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many staff of the House are paid on a performance-related basis.

Nick Harvey: At 18 January 2006 1,292 of the House's 1,626 staff were in pay arrangements with a performance-related element.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Commission for Africa

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to make copies of the Commission for Africa Report available in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The Commission for Africa (CfA) report was launched on 11 March in parallel events at the British museum in London and at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa. A press conference held after the launch in Addis Ababa led to good media coverage in Africa.
	Hard copies of the report were sent to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Union. Copies were also sent to all British embassies and DFID offices in Africa, many of which will have been passed to African partner organisations.
	The story of the Commission's work is told on the Commission website www.commissionforafrica.org which will remain as a permanent online archive. The full report can be downloaded from this website, without charge in English and French and Part One in Arabic, Swahili, Portuguese (as well as Mandarin and Japanese). The cost of a hard copy of the full report is £10 which includes postage and packing, irrespective of where it will be sent globally.
	In addition, I understand that over 26,000 copies of the Penguin version of Part One of the Commission for Africa report have been sold worldwide.

Departmental Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in London Headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has purchased 38 widescreen TV displays for use in the London Headquarters in the past five years, as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001–02 0 
			 2002–03 16 
			 2003–04 12 
			 2004–05 3 
			 2005–06 7 
		
	
	Of these, two are used for general display purposes, and 36 form part of video-conferencing facilities. DFID makes extensive use of video-conferences between the two Headquarters in London and East Kilbride, and also to and between offices overseas. These save travel costs and enable meetings to take place which would not otherwise be feasible. The displays are usually purchased as part of complete video-conference units, and it is not possible to separate the cost of the displays from the total equipment costs.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Under the Treasury's delegated pay arrangements for staff below the senior civil service, DFID has consolidated its London weighting allowance into basic pay.
	We are currently in the second year of a three year pay deal. Salary levels for all UK based staff will be reviewed as part of the pay negotiations for the next pay settlement that takes effect from 1 August 2007.

Economic Partnership Agreements

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK position is on trade liberalisation conditions of the economic partnership agreements between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries; and if he will make a statement on the progress made in negotiations of these issues during the UK presidency of the EU.

Gareth Thomas: The UK position on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) was published in March 2005. It states that EPAs must be designed to deliver long-term development, economic growth and poverty reduction in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. We believe that the ACP countries can benefit from trade liberalisation in the long run, provided they have the economic capacity and infrastructure they need to trade competitively. However, without this capacity or the right conditions including appropriate complementary policies to help manage the change, trade liberalisation can be harmful. The UK also believes that each region in the ACP should have flexibility and make its own decisions on the timing, pace, sequencing, and product coverage of market opening in line with individual countries' national development plans and poverty reduction strategies. We will not force trade liberalisation on developing countries either through trade negotiations or aid conditionality.
	During the UK presidency in 2005, the European Commission and the ACP did not negotiate on trade liberalisation issues. These issues will be negotiated over the coming year for all ACP regions.

GM Crops (Terminator Seeds)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of Terminator seed technology on the food security and livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: Terminator technology (genetic use restriction technologies or GURTs) involves a wide range of complex issues that are developing rapidly. While the Government monitor the impact of this technology, DFID has not undertaken an assessment of the effects of terminator technology on the food security and livelihoods of small-scale farmers in developing countries.
	DFID takes genetic modification (GM) in crops and foods and its potential impacts on poor people, including small-scale farmers, in developing countries very seriously. Our approach is based on the principle that the health of people and their environment is of primary concern. We recognise that GM technology in itself will not solve the problem of world hunger. However, biotechnology has the potential to make a contribution to development and poverty reduction, if managed responsibly and applied to those crops on which the poor rely.
	Recognising that there are both potential benefits and risks associated with gene technologies and GM crops, developing countries should be able to make their own informed choices. To this end, DFID worked with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the international community to establish the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, under the UN convention on biological diversity (CBD). The protocol adopts a strong precautionary approach and aims to ensure that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of genetically modified organisms. It also facilitates the exchange of information on living modified organisms and assists countries in the implementation of the protocol. This means that importing countries are able to make a decision to avoid or minimise potential adverse effects of GM organisms, even if the potential extent of such effects is uncertain.
	With regard to GURTs, the parties to the CBD decided in 2000, that there should be a precautionary approach to their use while research into the possible impacts of these technologies was carried out. Parties will look to re-affirm this decision at the CBD meeting in March this year. Parties will also discuss the need for further research on the impacts of GURTs and how to share information from these studies.

Kenya

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid and support is being given to the Wajir region of Kenya by the UK to deal with the present drought and consequential famine in the region.

Hilary Benn: The Wajir and Mandera districts are the worst affected areas in northern Kenya. Levels of malnutrition are unacceptably high. The Department of International Development's support is channelled through UN agencies and competent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help save the lives of those most at risk.
	The total DFID contribution stands at £12.7 million since the start of the crisis in July 2004. This includes the commitment of an additional £3 million made during my recent visit to Wajir.
	Our support is focused on the worst affected areas, particularly Wajir, where DFID's main implementing partners are Oxfam, Merlin and UNICEF. The support given in Wajir includes food aid channelled through the World Food Programme, emergency health support, feeding programmes for malnourished children and water provision (boreholes services and water trucking).

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by him in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by him on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) aims to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their Named Day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but this Department makes every effort to achieve these timescales.
	During the last 12 months, DFID answered 1,136 ordinary written parliamentary questions within 14 days after the date of tabling; 12 ordinary written questions were answered between 14 and 28 days and one question was answered after 28 days.
	During the same 12 month period, DFID answered 115 parliamentary questions substantively on the named day; 31 questions received a substantive response after the named day. DFID transferred six named day questions to other Government departments for response.

South Asian Earthquake

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) tents and (b) other forms of shelter have been airlifted from the UK to aid victims of the South Asia earthquake.

Gareth Thomas: DFID does not have a figure for the total number of tents and shelter materials sent from the UK in response to the earthquake in South Asia. DFID however, sent 9,000 tents, 36,000 tarpaulins, 125,000 pieces of plastic sheeting and 125,000 lengths of 16.5 metre rope. Support to shelter represents a sizeable proportion of DFID financial assistance to UN agencies, non-governmental organisations and the Red Cross Movement Specifically, it was included in the £1.4 million channelled through Save the Children, £700,000 through the Norwegian Refugee Council, £300,000 through the Agency for Technical Co-operation and Development (ACTED), £498,964 through Tearfund. £1,830,000 through the International Organisation of Migration and £4.57 million through the Red Cross Movement. Tents and shelter materials were also included in the 78 relief flights arranged by DFID on behalf of the Disasters Emergency Committee.
	DFID further supported UN activities through its support to the NATO airlift, transporting relief items including tents from UN warehouses in Europe and the Middle East to Pakistan (airlifts provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), at DFID's request, with DFID paying the marginal costs of the assistance). DFID also provided funding for an 86 strong team drawn from 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, deployed under NATO command, to undertake emergency shelter building operations in remote high-altitude areas in the Bagh region. The Royal Engineers unit are highly specialist troops who are trained to operate in winter and mountainous conditions.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of returnees to the south of Sudan, with particular reference to the (a) implications for civil society and (b) the possibility of localised conflict; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what research he has commissioned into the possible impact of returnees to southern Sudan.

Hilary Benn: To date, the large number of returns of refugees and internally displaced people predicted by the UN and others has still not taken place. There is still potential for increasing movement in the run up to the rainy season. The returns process is likely to be a gradual process, but aid agencies need to retain the flexibility to respond rapidly to any changes in this pattern or a sudden deterioration in the humanitarian situation that can be heightened by this process. DFID stands ready to provide assistance when required.
	The prospects for sustainable returns to southern Sudan are undermined by a number of factors including chronic under-development and very poor economic prospects for returnees, disease outbreaks and increasing levels of HIV/AIDS associated with population movements, and insufficient protection on the way home and in the areas of return. To support the returns process, the UK is providing early and significant contributions to the UN 2006 Work Plan, from which the UN humanitarian co-ordinator has already allocated over $40 million to the south. The UK is also establishing a £10 million service delivery fund in the south, which will act as a bridge while the Multi-Donor Trust Fund develops projects for funding and is able to assist longer term development needs. We are continuing to fund non-governmental organisation (NGO) humanitarian programmes.
	The UK and other donors are supporting various civil society groups in undertaking reconciliation and peace building activities in areas of return; these efforts will need to expand to match the scale of returns. There is the potential for localised conflict and violence following return, through inter-tribal disputes and as factions adapt to the changing political landscape.
	The UK has not itself commissioned any research into the impact of returns, but has been pressing the UN to enhance its analysis of the situation and the potential impacts emerging from the returns process, so that it can prioritise its interventions. DFID is regularly monitoring the situation in the south and the UN's response.

Syngenta

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the occasions on which (a) he and (b) his officials met representatives of Syngenta during (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Gareth Thomas: DFID officials attended a meeting at 11 Downing Street in November 2005 for a launch of the book Going for Growth". The book was published by the Smith Institute and sponsored by the Syngenta Foundation. DFID officials also attended the following meetings where representatives from Syngenta were present: the annual general meetings of the Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research held in Mexico City in October 2004, and in Marrakech in December 2005; and the Bureau meeting of the International Assessment of Agriculture Science and Technology held in Bangkok, January 2005.

Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of 25 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2119–20W, on timber, what plans he has to sign voluntary partnership agreements with (a) Brazil, (b) Indonesia and (c) China.

Gareth Thomas: The European Commission and member states have started consultations about Partnership Agreements with four counties, Cameroon, Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia. Consultations with Indonesia are being led by the European Commission. The UK Government are closely involved, drawing on our experience under the Indonesia-UK Memorandum of Understanding to tackle illegal logging.
	Consultations with Brazil about a Partnership Agreement have not yet started. Discussions will take place on illegal logging with Brazil in the second quarter of 2006.
	Consultations with China will take place within the framework of the agreement reached at the Eighth EU-China Summit for China and the EU to work together to tackle illegal logging. The Government have discussed this with the European Commission who will take this forward from the Delegation in Beijing.

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of his Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The only act of vandalism recorded against DFID buildings in the last 12 months was graffiti which was found on our small external storage site in East Kilbride.

TREASURY

Banks

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation requiring all banks operating in the UK to donate 1 per cent. of their UK profits to local community projects.

Ivan Lewis: The Government's approach to responsible business practice is voluntary and business led—we aim to set an appropriate framework for responsible business and other stakeholders, encouraging business to go further, facilitating the sharing of best practice and promoting responsible operations, while meeting our better regulation objectives.

Child Trust Fund

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Child Trust Fund accounts have been opened by families in London.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given to him on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 658W.
	The next release of Child Trust Fund statistics is due at the end of February 2006.

Child Trust Fund

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Child Trust Fund accounts have been opened by local authorities on behalf of children in their care since the programme began (a) in total, (b) in each region and (c) in each local education authority.

Ivan Lewis: Local authorities are not authorised to open Child Trust Fund accounts for the children in their care. Local authorities notify HMRC of the children in their care so that HMRC can ensure that these children do not miss out on a Child Trust Fund account.
	The total number of Child Trust Fund accounts opened by HMRC for looked after children will be published along with other annual CTF statistics later this year.

Climate Change Levy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research into the effectiveness of the climate change levy his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Government commissioned Cambridge Econometrics to carry out an independent evaluation of the climate change levy. This evaluation, Modelling the initial effects of the climate change levy", concluded that the levy is effective and should save over 3.5 million tonnes of carbon per annum by 2010. In particular, Cambridge Econometrics concluded that the announcement effect of CCL in Budget 1999 will, in combination with the price effect, have reduced energy demand in the commerce and public sector by 14.6 per cent. by 2010.

Companies Incorporated in India

Dari Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the value in pounds sterling to the UK economy of companies originally incorporated in India in 2004–05.

John Healey: There are no direct estimates of the value to the UK economy of companies originally incorporated in India. However, figures show that UK companies are increasingly investing in India: outward foreign direct investment to India increased by over 200 per cent. over the decade to 2004, a faster growth rate than that of total foreign direct investment abroad by UK companies. The stock of direct investment in India owned by UK companies stood at £1.7 billion in 2004.

Departmental Estate (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) land and (b) property is owned by his Department in Castle Point.

John Healey: HM Treasury owns no land or property in Castle Point.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Treasury pays a London Allowance of £2,000 p.a. to staff at SCS Payband 1 and has no plans to review or change this level of allowance.

Euro Transactions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of UK companies that accept payment in euros for transactions in the UK.

Ivan Lewis: The Government have not made any assessment of euro-based transactions in the UK. Information on the use of the euro in the City of London and UK's external trade was published in Box 6.1 on Page 29 in the Report on Euro Preparations, December 2004", available in the House of Commons Library.
	It is entirely a commercial decision for UK business to determine whether or not they wish to accept the euro or any other foreign currency. The Government published updated fact sheets The euro: its your business", in June 2005 to provide information for UK business that wish to do so. These are available to download or order free of charge from the Treasury's euro website www.euro.gov.uk.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) salaries and (b) emoluments paid by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development are exempt from UK income tax by virtue of being subject to the Bank's own internal tax.

Dawn Primarolo: Article 14 of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Immunities and Privileges) Order 1991 provides:
	(1) As from the date on which an internal effective tax for the benefit of the Bank on the salaries and emoluments paid to him by the Bank is applied, any Director, Alternate, Officer and Employee of the Bank shall enjoy exemption from income tax in respect of such salaries and emoluments, provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted as precluding such salaries and emoluments from being taken into account for the purpose of assessing the amount of taxation to be applied to income from other sources.
	(2) Paragraph (1) of this Article shall not apply to pensions or annuities paid by the Bank."
	An internal effective tax system for this purpose was introduced by the Bank on 28 March 1991.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1492–93W, on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), whether there has been a change in the rights of employees and retirees of the EBRD to dispose of their lump sum benefit as they see fit.

Dawn Primarolo: The position remains as set out in my earlier answer. The EBRD provides a lump sum which is intended for individuals to make investments to provide income in retirement. The form of these investments is for individuals to determine.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1492–3W, on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), whether employees of the EBRD who do not choose to buy an annuity or other taxable investment will receive the enhancement to their lump sum originally granted for the purpose of paying income tax; and by what (a) formula and (b) amount benefit deriving from the EBRD pension fund was increased for the purpose of paying income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The EBRD provides a lump sum which is intended for individuals to make investments to provide income in retirement. The lump sum is calculated on the same basis for all staff.
	My earlier answer set out in full the rationale behind the changes to the level of lump sum payment. As I made clear, contributions to the EBRD's pension funds were increased in 1992 not for the payment of income tax, but to ensure consistency with comparable organisations.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms are in place to ensure that employees and retirees of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development pay income tax if they choose not to make a taxable investment with their lump sum benefit and if additional shareholder funds have been added to that lump sum for the purpose of paying income tax; and who is responsible for overseeing these mechanisms.

Dawn Primarolo: I advised the hon. Gentleman in my written answer of 19 January, Official Report, columns 1492–93W, that the EBRD provides a lump sum which is intended for individuals to make investments to provide income in retirement. The form of these investments is for individuals to determine. My earlier answer of the 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2797W, stated that retirement income arising from the investment is liable to income tax in the normal way.

Fair Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's policy is on the procurement of fair trade produce for consumption on its premises.

John Healey: The Treasury's catering contractor is encouraged to offer fair trade products for sale to staff. Fair trade coffee is served at all official meetings, and fair trade tea is also available.

Fair Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what proportion of his Department's catering budget was spent on fair trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury's catering contractor does not separately identify the cost of fair trade produce within its charges to the Treasury. They reviewed orders for the week ending 3 February. Total orders for the week were £8,604, of which £3,915 (45 per cent.) consisted of fair trade produce.

Manufacturing Jobs (Beverley and Holderness)

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Beverley and Holderness were employed in manufacturing in each year between 1992 and 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about manufacturing. (51519)
	The attached table shows estimates of the number of people resident in the Beverley and Holderness constituency employed in manufacturing for the 12 month periods ending February 1995 to February 1998 from the annual local area Labour Force Survey. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	
		People employed in manufacturing, resident in the Beverley and Holderness Parliamentary Constituency
		
			 12 months ending Numbers (thousands) 
		
		
			 February 1995 6 
			 February 1996 7 
			 February 1997 9 
			 February 1998 11 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are subject to sampling variability.
	2. Changes from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey.

Marriages

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions he has made (a) for the purposes of demographic modelling and (b) for other reasons about the number of marriages in the decade to 2016 between UK nationals and citizens of (i) Pakistan, (ii) India and (iii) Bangladesh where the latter seek settlement in the UK.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 February 2006
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the assumptions made (a) for the purposes of demographic modelling and (b) for other reasons about the number of marriages in the decade to 2016 between UK nationals and citizens of (i) Pakistan, (ii) India and (iii) Bangladesh where the latter seeks settlement in the UK. (50246)
	The Government Actuary's Department has periodically produced projections of the future population of England & Wales by marital status. Responsibility for such projections has recently transferred to the Office for National Statistics. As part of this work, assumptions are made about future marriage rates. However, these assumptions are not broken down by nationality.

Money Laundering

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Financial Services Authority's press release of 8 March 2001, 
	(1)  if he will list the UK banks which laundered money for the former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha; and how much money was handled by each bank;
	(2)  if he will undertake an inquiry to establish whether banks in (a) the UK and (b) Crown Dependencies offered their facilities to General Pinochet to evade taxes and launder money.

Ivan Lewis: The handling of accounts linked to the late General Abacha or to General Pinochet by banks in the United Kingdom is a regulatory matter, responsibility for which lies with the Financial Services Authority, and the financial regulatory authorities on each Crown Dependency.
	HM Treasury and the Governments of the Crown Dependencies are responsible for the overarching framework of legislation and guidance in relation to money laundering, which has been subject to a wide ranging modernisation programme to safeguard the integrity of the financial services sector.

Myeloma

Paul Keetch: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the life expectancy of a patient suffering from myeloma was in England in the last period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what the life expectancy of a patient suffering from myeloma was in England in the last period for which figures are available. (49870)
	Data on life expectancy for patients with specific types of cancer are not available. Available information relates to survival from diagnosis. Survival rates are calculated from the proportion of patients in each age group still alive at a given period after diagnosis.
	The latest available survival rates for multiple myeloma 1 in England are for adult patients (aged 15–99 years) diagnosed during 1998–2001 and followed up to 31 December 2003. The five-year age-standardised 2 relative survival rates for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma during 1998–2001 3 in England, was 25.6 per cent. for both male and female patients.
	The survival statistics are available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Productasp?vlnk=14007
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C90.
	2 As cancer survival varies with age at diagnosis, rates have been age standardised to control for changes in the age profile of cancer patients over time. 3 Complete five-year follow-up is currently only available for those diagnosed in 1998. For patients diagnosed in later years the most up-to-date estimates of shorter-term survival were used in this analysis of survival rates.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by him on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named.

John Healey: A parliamentary question is transferred when it is more appropriate for an answer to be given by a Department other than that to which it was originally tabled. Records are not kept of the number of questions transferred to and from the Treasury.
	In the 2004–05 Session, Treasury Ministers answered 79 per cent. of named day questions substantively on the day nominated by questioners. The figure for the 2005–06 session to date is 70 per cent.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer by him in the last 12 months have been answered (a) within 14 days, (b) between 14 and 28 days, (c) between 28 days and two months and (d) in excess of two months after the date of tabling; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, in the 2004–05 session, Treasury Ministers answered 84 per cent. of ordinary written questions within a working week of their having been tabled, as provided for in Erskine May" (Twenty-Third Edition, page 342). The corresponding figure for the 2005–06 session to date is 79 per cent.

Pool Re

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether buildings insurance provided through Pool Re covers radiological, biological and chemical terrorist attack where the building is subsequently uninhabitable due to contamination without significant structural damage.

Ivan Lewis: Pool Re provides reinsurance cover for commercial property damage and consequent business interruption resulting from an act of terrorism on mainland Great Britain (excluding war and cyber terrorism risks).
	Where purchased, insurance cover provided under the Pool Re scheme by its members (insurance firms) is subject to the terms and conditions which appear in the underlying policies issued by those members, which will contain no exclusions for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear effects applying to the terrorism cover. This means that such policies will include cover for property damage relating to radiological, biological and chemical effects where the cause is an act of terrorism. The extent of the insured's cover will ultimately depend on the contract between the insurer and insured.

Post Office Card Account

John Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Manchester, Withington use a Post Office card account to access child benefit.

Dawn Primarolo: Approximately 920 recipients in Manchester, Withington used a Post Office card account to access child benefit in November 2005.

Qinetiq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what professional advice his Department received about the offering of shares in Qinetiq to retail investors at flotation; when this advice was received; whether (a) officials and (b) Ministers challenged this advice; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The recommendation that the Qinetiq IPO should not include a retail offer was received by the MOD from its professional advisers and the final decision was taken in consultation with other Government Departments.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the changes proposed in his pre-Budget statement in respect of real estate investment trusts upon (a) availability of housing for rent, (b) the amount and proportion of second and holiday homes, (c) the availability of housing in areas with a preponderance of second and holiday homes and (d) other aspects of the housing market.

Ivan Lewis: Real estate investment trusts (UK-REITs) will provide a publicly quoted vehicle for investment in both commercial and residential property. As part of the Government's response to Kate Barker's Review of Housing Supply, one of the aims of introducing UK-REITs is to improve efficiency, affordability and professionalism in the private rented sector to the benefit of residential tenants. The Government will publish a final regulatory impact assessment alongside Finance Bill legislation.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria will apply to the purchase of residential properties under his proposed changes to real estate investment trusts.

John Healey: As is set out in the draft legislation, published in December 2005 and updated in January 2006, real estate investment trusts (UK-REITs) will, among other rules, be required to be companies listed on a Recognised Stock Exchange, as defined for tax purposes, and to hold at least three properties, of which no one property can exceed 40 per cent. of the value of the total portfolio. These rules will apply to UK-REITs investing in commercial and/or residential property.

Scottish Bank Notes

Anne Begg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is legal to use Scottish bank notes in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Ivan Lewis: Under the Bank Notes (Scotland) Act 1845, certain commercial banks are allowed to issue their own banknotes in Scotland. There is no Act of Parliament that makes provision for Scottish banknotes to be legal tender in any part of the UK including Scotland itself. However, legal tender is a narrow legal concept that has little to do with the way in which most payments are made. Contrary to popular belief, the payment arrangements for transactions are not dependent on whether the means of payment are legal tender" but are rather a matter for the parties concerned to agree upon as a matter of contract. Many transactions are settled through means of payment that are not legal tender such as credit and debit cards, and cheques.
	Legally, no one is obliged to accept Scottish notes, or indeed other methods of payment, in any part of the UK as a means of payment if they do not wish to do so.

St. Bartholomew's Hospital

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the funding of the scheme to rebuild St. Bartholomew's Hospital.

Des Browne: The business case for the proposed redevelopment of St. Bartholomew's Hospital and the Royal London Hospital is being considered by the Department of Health. As with any other large investment scheme, once Health Ministers have approved it, it will be formally referred to the Treasury.
	NHS investment schemes are not funded directly by the Treasury, but are paid for at a local level by trusts, from within the NHS spending review settlement allocated to Department of Health.

Staff Absences (High Cholesterol)

Howard Stoate: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the economy in terms of lost working hours through staff absence and reduced productivity of people with unhealthy cholesterol levels.

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State has made no estimate of this kind. There are published estimates suggesting that coronary heart disease (CHD) caused 65.4 million certified incapacity days in 1999, entailing £2.2 billion in lost production that cholesterol levels above five millimoles/litre account for half of the burden of CHD.

Tax (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average amount of tax paid by families in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency was in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the average amount of income tax paid by families at constituency level are unavailable.
	Available information on the number of taxpayers and their mean and median total income by constituency, can be found in table 3.15 Total Income by Parliamentary Constituency" on the HM Revenue and Customs internet website http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm-315.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which court cases, heard by (a) special commissioners in which proceedings are complete and (b) the European Court of Justice his Department successfully challenged tax avoidance schemes operated by (i) corporate and (ii) non-corporate entities.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not readily available in the form requested and obtaining it would incur disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which tax credit decisions carry the right of appeal.

Dawn Primarolo: Appeal rights of tax credit decisions are prescribed by section 38 of the Tax Credits Act 2002. The Act can be found on the website of the Office of Public Sector Information. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020021.htm.

UK Coinage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the costs were of minting each denomination of UK coinage in each of the last five years.

John Healey: I refer my right hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 4 February 2005, Official Report, column 1188W.

VAT Fraud

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of VAT fraud in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of VAT revenue loss—the VAT gap", for each of the last three years, are available in the paper Measuring Indirect Tax Losses", published in December 2005. The publication can be found in the Library of the House or in the following link: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2005/mitl2005.pdf

Vegetable Oil

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will reduce the level of taxation on vegetable oil to the level for natural gas;
	(2)  how much revenue the Government expect to receive from the changes to the level of tax on vegetable oil as a fuel in 2005–06;
	(3)  what the level of taxation on vegetable oil as a fuel was in each year since 2001;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the number of motorists using vegetable oil as a fuel; and what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the taxation of such fuel on the numbers of motorists using it.

John Healey: Fuel produced from vegetable oil is eligible for the rate of duty for biodiesel (currently 27.10 pence per litre) if it meets the legal definition of biodiesel for tax purposes set out in section 2AA of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979. In other cases it is liable to duty at 47.10 pence per litre, as has been the case since Royal Assent to the Finance Act 2002.
	Duty rates for all fuels are reviewed annually as part of the Budget process. Duty rates for biodiesel are set according to the principles of the Alternative Fuels Framework, published in the 2003 pre-Budget report. In line with the commitment to provide rolling three-year certainty set out in the framework, the current differential for biodiesel of 20 pence per litre is guaranteed until 2008.
	There has been no increase in excise duty on road fuels, including biofuels, since October 2003, when duty dates were revalorised on line with inflation.
	The rates of duty for fuel produced from vegetable oil since 2001 are as follows:
	
		
			  Pence per litre 
			 Date Fuel produced from vegetable oil that meets the fiscal definition of biodiesel  All other fuel produced from vegetable oil used as road fuel 
		
		
			 7 March 2001 45.82 45.82 
			 26 July 2002 25.82 — 
			 1 October 2003 27.10 47.10 
		
	
	The Government continue to review its progress in encouraging the development of a biofuels market in the UK. In January 2006, over 4 million litres of biodiesel were released for consumption in the UK, representing a three-fold increase in the level of consumption since the same period last year.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria were used in making the decision no longer to use the rolling 30-year period for exempting older, historic cars from vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: In his 1998 Budget speech, the Chancellor announced his intention to introduce a more environmentally sensitive system of VED. The Government have since re-structured VED so that it more closely reflects environmental impacts.
	The continuation of the 25-year rolling exemption was difficult to justify on environmental grounds within the reformed VED system because older cars tend to be less clean—especially in terms of local air pollutants such as particulates and nitrogen oxides—than newer cars.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that local authority children's services are aware of their new obligations under the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 when assessing young carers' needs.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 6 February 2006
	In August 2005 the Department of Health published, jointly with my Department, combined policy guidance on the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 and the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004. This was the product of extensive consultation with local authorities and other agencies and voluntary organisations. The guidance is widely available via the Department of Health website. Local authorities are required to act in accordance with the guidance under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. Local authorities also have a duty under Schedule 2, paragraph 1(2) of the Children Act 1989 to publicise their services to families with children in need, and to take steps to ensure that those who might benefit from the services receive the information.

Choice Advisers

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many choice advisers she expects will be required in each local education authority; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what (a) training and (b) qualifications will be required to be a choice adviser; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The number of choice advisers required in each local area will vary in relation to levels of deprivation.
	We intend to publish guidance for local authorities on choice advice which will cover a range of issues including the role of the choice adviser, potential delivery models, and the training and skills necessary to perform the role.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions her Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury.

Bill Rammell: The Department has not conducted any citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years.

Class Sizes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size is in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Leicester and (ii) England.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.

Contact Centres

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the contact centres for children and absent parents funded by her Department.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is listed as follows.
	New supervised child contact centres
	York (Family Mediation Service)
	Stoke (Mediation Advisory Service)
	Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire Domestic Violence Forum)
	North Wiltshire (Family Mediation Service)
	Merseyside (National Youth Advocacy Service)
	Blackburn (Diocese)
	South London (African Caribbean Family Mediation Service)
	Cambridge (Pyramids Family Centres)
	West London (Domestic Violence Intervention Programme)
	Scunthorpe (The Forge)
	Leeds (Family Service Unit)
	Northamptonshire (Spurgeons)
	NCH Herefordshire
	NCH Bristol
	NCH Durham
	Child contact centres awarded funding from the sustainability fund
	Withington Child Contact Centre
	Ashton-under-Lyne WRVS Contact Centre
	Bolton Contact Centre
	Bootle/Sefton Child and Family Connect
	Workington Contact Centre
	Southport Contact Centre
	St. Helens Contact Centre
	Rochdale Contact Centre
	Oldham Contact Centre
	Wirral Contact Centre
	Bury Child Contact Centre
	Lancaster Child Contact Centre
	Child and Family Connect Liverpool
	Stockport Contact Centre
	East Lancashire Contact Centre
	Salford Child Contact Centre
	Greater Manchester Children's Supervised Contact Centre
	St. Joseph's Family Centre, Warrington
	Buttershaw Child Contact Centre
	Harrogate Child Contact Centre
	Wythenshawe Child Contact Centre
	Middlesbrough Contact Centre
	Bishop Auckland Family Contact Centre
	Wellingborough Contact Centre
	Derby Child Contact Centre
	Stoke on Trent / Hanley Contact Centre
	Stafford Contact Centre
	Children Come First (Daventry)
	Macclesfield Child Contact Centre
	St. John's Ambulance Child Contact Centre, Grantham
	St. John Ambulance Contact Centre, Spalding
	The Meeting Place Child Contact Centre, Scarborough
	Bedworth Family Support Centre
	The Salvation Army Child Contact Service, Birmingham
	Family Action in Our Region, Rushden
	Stevenage Child Contact Centre
	St. Matthew's Child Contact Centre, Colchester
	Norfolk and Norwich Families House
	Swindon Contact Centre
	Chard Child Contact Centre
	Yeovil Contact Centre
	Taunton Child Contact Centre
	The Little House Contact Centre, Exeter
	Woking Child Contact Centre
	Havant Borough Child Contact Centres
	Guildford Contact Centre
	St. John and St. Stephen's Contact Centre, Reading
	St. Paul's Family Meeting Place, Bracknell
	Cowley Child Contact Centre
	Eastbourne Child Contact Centre
	Cove Family Contact Centre
	Lewes Child Contact Centre
	Alton Contact Centre
	Portsmouth Child Contact Centre (ECRC)
	Kidlington Contact Centre
	Walton on Thames Child Contact Centre
	Medway Child Contact Centre
	Neutral Ground Child Contact Centre, Greenwich
	Lewisham Welcare Contact Centre
	Children First Child Contact Centre, Hackney
	Merlon Family Links Contact Centre
	Enfield Family Contact Centre
	St. Andrew's Family Contact Centre, Baling
	Coram Family Child Contact Service, Camden
	Havelock Family Centre
	Brixton Family Services
	Sutton Welcare Family Contact Centres
	Welcare Accord Contact Centres

Demographics

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the projected increases in the population of England upon demand and capacity in schools.

Jacqui Smith: The latest population projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department show that although the population of England is projected to rise by nearly 7 million people between 2004 and 2031, the trends are different depending on the age group. In particular, the population of children of approximately primary school age (5–10) has been falling since 1999 and is projected to continue falling until 2008. The population of children of compulsory secondary school age (11–15) started to fall in 2005 and is expected to continue falling until 2014.
	
		Population in England at mid-year by age at last birthday (thousand)
		
			  2004 2010 2015 2020 2025 2031 
		
		
			 Age 5–10 3,645 3,480 3,591 3,601 3,683 3,703 
			 Age 11–15 3,252 3,032 2,881 3,008 3,004 3,086 
			 Age 16–18 1,957 1,942 1,837 1,772 1,821 1,848 
			 All ages 50,094 51,715 53,009 54,344 55,594 56,832 
		
	
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department 2004-based principal population projections
	The Department uses these population projections (along with annual schools census data and estimates of participation in education for non-compulsory ages) to produce pupil projections by age and school type to 2020. These pupil projections are used by the Department to inform the setting of teacher training places.
	The impact of demographic changes will also be considered by the Department in work on revenue funding as part of the spending review process. On planning the supply of school places our policy is that this is best done at a local level by the local authority, and they are allocated the capital resources to meet future demand. Local authorities have a duty to ensure that there are sufficient places and that high quality education is provided in a cost effective way.
	Many local authorities are facing falling primary rolls. Funding empty places can represent a poor use of resources particularly where schools with spare places also perform poorly. Working with local authorities and other partners we have developed a toolkit offering practical advice to help local authorities and schools manage falling rolls. The toolkit is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/falling_rolls.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff employed by her Department live in Castle Point.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of staff employed in my Department who live in Castle Point are less than five.

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of her Department's employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of employees in my Department who have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five calendar years are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2005 below 5 
			 2004 11 
			 2003 9 
			 2002 15 
			 2001 21

Engineering Academy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the merits of establishing an engineering academy.

Jacqui Smith: We are currently examining the possibility of a proposal to establish an academy in Staffordshire with a specialism in engineering and international business. During the current feasibility stage the project team is preparing detailed plans, including an educational vision, curriculum model and an outline building design. Consultation with the local community will also take place. At the end of the current feasibility stage we expect to sign a funding agreement with the project's sponsor.

Fuel Cell Technology

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to encourage schools to use fuel cell technology.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 9 February 2006
	The Department is keeping a watching brief on the development of fuel cells. At the moment they are in prototype stage and too unreliable or expensive to be used in schools but future developments may make them a cost-effective replacement for boilers and for the internal combustion engine.

GCSEs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list secondary schools in England where the percentage contribution of BTEC first diplomas to the percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five plus A* to C grades at GCSE and equivalent was (a) 0.5 to 1 per cent., (b) 1 to 2 per cent., (c) 2 to 5 per cent., (d) 5 to 10 per cent., (e) 10 to 20 per cent., (f) 20 to 30 per cent. and (g) greater than 30 per cent. in 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the information requested.
	
		Schools where the difference between the proportion of 15-year-olds achieving the equivalent five or more A* to C grades and the proportion of 15-year-olds achieving the equivalent of five or more A* to C grades if BTEC first diploma achievements are ignored
		
			  Location 
		
		
			 (a) 1 percentage point difference  
			 Writhlington School Bath and North  East Somerset 
			 Vandyke Upper School and Community College Bedfordshire 
			 Longhill High School Brighton and Hove 
			 Patcham House Special School Brighton and Hove 
			 Richard Lander School Cornwall 
			 All Saints' Church of England School, Weymouth Dorset 
			 Royal Manor Arts College Dorset 
			 The Causeway School East Sussex 
			 Oaklands Catholic School Hampshire 
			 Knightsfield School Hertfordshire 
			 Rossendale School Lancashire 
			 Cockburn College of Arts Leeds 
			 Joseph Ruston Technology College Lincolnshire 
			 North Kesteven School Lincolnshire 
			 St. Peter and St. Paul, Lincoln's Catholic High  School, A Science College Lincolnshire 
			 North Manchester High School for Boys Manchester 
			 Trinity CofE High School Manchester 
			 Ounsdale High School Staffordshire 
			 Wolgarston High School Staffordshire 
			 Cheadle Hulme High School Stockport 
			 Glebelands School Surrey 
			 Rodborough Technology College Surrey 
			 Woolmer Hill Technology College Surrey 
			 Aveling Park School Waltham Forest 
			 Studley High School Warwickshire 
			   
			 (b) 2 percentage points difference  
			 The Cedars Upper School and Community College Bedfordshire 
			 Bishop Challoner Catholic School Birmingham 
			 Holte School Birmingham 
			 Treviglas Community College Cornwall 
			 Staunton Park Community School Hampshire 
			 Caistor Yarborough School Lincolnshire 
			 Middlefield School of Technology Lincolnshire 
			 North Manchester High School for Girls Manchester 
			 Wright Robinson Sports College Manchester 
			 Stoke Damerel Community College Plymouth 
			 Siddal Moor Sports College Rochdale 
			 The Lakelands School and Sports College Shropshire 
			 Broadwater School Surrey 
			 West Hill School Tameside 
			   
			 (c) 3 to 5 percentage points difference  
			 The Roseland Community School Cornwall 
			 Merrill College Derby 
			 Stoke Newington School Hackney 
			 The Canterbury High School Kent 
			 The Charles Dickens School Kent 
			 Glenburn Sports College Lancashire 
			 South Leeds High School Leeds 
			 The City of Lincoln Community College Lincolnshire 
			 Plant Hill High School Manchester 
			 St. Peter's RC High School Manchester 
			 King's Manor School, Specialist Sports College Middlesbrough 
			 Hereford Technology School North East  Lincolnshire 
			 Wintringham School North East  Lincolnshire 
			 Wyvern Community School North Somerset 
			 Norton College North Yorkshire 
			 Haydon Bridge Community High School and Sports  College Northumberland 
			 Sir Bernard Lovell School South Gloucestershire 
			 Pennywell School Sunderland 
			 Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate Girls School Tower Hamlets 
			 Ashton-on-Mersey School Trafford 
			 Lymm High Voluntary Controlled School Warrington 
			   
			 (d) 6 to 10 percentage points difference  
			 The Vyne Community School Hampshire 
			 Upper Avon School Wiltshire 
			 Failsworth School Oldham 
			 Stourport High School-Language College Worcestershire 
			 BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology Croydon 
			 Northumberland Park Community School Haringey 
			 Lordswood Boys' School Birmingham 
			 Kings Heath Boys Mathematics and Computing  College Birmingham 
			 Thornton Grammar School Bradford 
			 John Spence Community High School North Tyneside 
			   
			 (e) 11 to 20 percentage points difference  
			 Tulketh Community Sports College Lancashire 
			 Swan Valley Community School Kent 
			 Our Lady and St. Chad Catholic School Wolverhampton 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. In no schools was the difference greater than 14 percentage points.
	2. Data are for all published schools.

Grandparents (Access Rights)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department provides to grandparents on remaining in contact with their grandchildren after a parental separation.

Maria Eagle: The Government's 'Parenting Plans' publication is available to parents, grandparents and other family members. They contain a checklist of issues that might usefully be considered, when planning contact and other arrangements following parental separation. My Department has recently revised the 'Parenting Plans' publication to include a range of case examples which indicate how others have reached agreement and to provide details of advisory services and agencies which families can turn to for advice.
	In addition, my Department is undertaking work to make information available to grandparents and other relatives who are considering caring for a child. The Government has funded the Family Rights Group to develop advice sheets. Pages have also been added to the Every Child Matters website. These provide information on the legal arrangements for caring for a child by family and friends, parental responsibility, the availability of universal services and benefits and details of support that may be provided by local authorities. Further pages will be added to the Direct Gov website in the spring.

Higher Education (Pay)

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much the Government have allocated to higher education institutions to tackle unequal pay;
	(2)  what guidance has been given to the Higher Education Funding Council for England meet the Government's equal pay objectives.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 6 February 2006
	By 2006, the Government will have provided nearly £0.8 billion to higher education institutions through the Rewarding and Developing Staff (RDS) initiative, managed by the Higher Education Funding Council. Developing equal opportunity targets—encompassing the need address equal opportunity issues including equal pay for work of equal value—is one of the six priority areas for RDS. The KPMG evaluation of round 1 of RDS (2001–02 to 2003–04) showed that approximately £43 million (13 per cent. of the total round 1 allocation) was spent by HEIs on this priority area.
	Overall funding available to institutions also influences what they can pay their staff. State expenditure on higher education will increase by around £2 billion between 2004–05 and 2007–08, taking total investment to almost £9.5 billion. Moreover the introduction of variable fees in 2006/07 will increase the funding available to the sector by an estimated further £1.35 billion per year, when it reaches steady state. It is, of course, a matter for individual institutions to decide how best to use the resources they have. The Government has provided guidance to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), through its Grant Letters, on issues concerning equal opportunities—for example in the most recent letter (January 2006) we have asked HEFCE to continue to support institutions so that they can fulfil their statutory duties. We have not provided specific guidance on equal pay.

Home Education

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006 to the hon. Member for Tamworth (Mr. Jenkins), Official Report, column 1916W, on home education, if she will commission research on the number of parents who educate their children at home.

Jacqui Smith: The research needs for my Department are currently under review, and research into the prevalence of elective home education in England is under consideration.

LEA Finance

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding per pupil from the Dedicated Schools Budget will be for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local education authority for 2006–07.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) on 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 2200W.

Lesley Staggs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reasons Lesley Staggs gave to her Department for resigning as National Director of the Foundation Stage; and who has been appointed to the post.

Maria Eagle: Lesley Staggs, the present National Director for the Foundation Stage within the Primary National Strategy, has tendered her resignation to her employer, The Capita Group plc. Her resignation from the post is a matter between Lesley Staggs and Capita.
	Capita are currently undertaking a recruitment process to appoint a new Director for the Foundation Stage, with interviews scheduled for early February. The successful candidate will be announced in due course.

List 99

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to paragraph 27 of her Review of the List 99 decision-making process and policy implications document published on 19 January whether the 10 cases are regarded by the police as not posing a risk because (a) none of the individuals is currently teaching in schools or (b) the individuals themselves are regarded as not posing a risk.

Ruth Kelly: As I said in my statement and the accompanying report of 19 January, current inquiries suggest that none of the individuals concerned is working in a school. Police have been asked to visit each of these individuals to check whether any is a cause for concern. None is judged by the police to pose a current risk.

List 99

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people on List 99 have been permitted, at Ministers' discretion, to work in (a) sixth form colleges, (b) colleges of further education, (c) nurseries and (d) playgroups in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 31 January 2006
	It is not possible to provide this information in the format requested.
	The Secretary of State does not give permission for people to work in specific settings; employment decisions are a matter for individual employers. Any individual who appears on List 99 or the POCA List (other than provisionally) on the grounds of unsuitability to work with children is barred from working in a regulated position" within the meaning of section 36 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 which includes, for example, a position whose normal duties include caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children.

Protection of Children Act

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have (a) been on and (b) been removed from the Protection of Children Act List in each year since it was first compiled.

Ruth Kelly: The Protection of Children Act List is a referral system for employers who have dismissed an individual for misconduct that harmed a child or placed a child at risk of harm. For all regulated child care settings it is mandatory to CRB check individuals prior to appointment. The Protection of Children Act List provides an additional safeguard within the CRB system for a limited range of circumstances set out in legislation, for example where somebody employed in a regulated child care position has been dismissed because they harmed a child. Since the establishment of the Protection of Children Act List in October 2000 the following number of people have been added or removed from the Protection of Children Act List in each year since it was first compiled:
	
		
			  Names added Names removed 
		
		
			 (a) 2000 899 0 
			 (b) 2001 48 52 
			 (c) 2002 53 14 
			 (d) 2003 68 9 
			 (e) 2004 129 12 
			 (f) 2005 227 26 
		
	
	The names added includes people transferred from the Consultancy Service Index, which was maintained by the Department of Health prior to the introduction of the Protection of Children Act.

Pupil Exclusions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the rates of (a) temporary and (b) permanent exclusions are at schools run with (i) exclusively public money and (ii) financial assistance from the Vardy Foundation.

Jacqui Smith: The Emmanuel Schools Foundation sponsors three schools—King's academy; Trinity academy and Emmanuel city technology college.
	Trinity academy only opened in September 2005 so no exclusions data have yet been collected from this establishment. Information on exclusions during the 2005/06 academic year should be available by June 2007.
	Information on fixed period exclusions from academies and city technology colleges will start to be collected on a termly basis from May 2006. Figures for the full 2005/06 academic year should be available by June 2007.
	The available information relating to permanent exclusions in the 2003/04 academic year is given in the table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies(16): number and percentage of permanent exclusions2003/04: England
		
			  Permanent exclusions 
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 The Emmanuel Schools Foundation   
			 The King's academy(17) 27 2.60 
			 Trinity academy(18) (19)— (19)— 
			 Emmanuel city technology college(17) 0 0.00 
			 Total schools receiving funding from the   Emmanuel Schools Foundation(17) 27 1.19 
			
			 Other schools   
			 Maintained secondary schools 8,315 0.25 
			 City technology colleges (excluding Emmanuel  CTC)(17) 24 0.16 
			 Academies (excluding the King's academy and  Trinity academy)(17) 58 0.63 
			 Total other schools(17) 8,397 0.25 
		
	
	(16) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(17) Information on permanent exclusions collected from academies and city technology colleges has not been validated. Figures are as reported by schools.
	(18) Permanent exclusions data are collected retrospectively. The 2005 Annual Schools Census collected information on pupils on roll as at January 2005 together with permanent exclusions in 2003/04 school year. Trinity academy opened in September 2005, so information on permanent exclusions from this establishment is not currently available.
	(19) Not available.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Regulatory Reform

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many regulatory reform orders her Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

Maria Eagle: My Department laid one regulatory reform order in 2001. The order was made. The order was: The Regulatory Reform (Voluntary Aided Schools Liabilities and Funding) (England) Order 2002 (2002/906).

Safeguarding Children

George Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her oral statement of 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 966–70, on safeguarding children, what arrangements are in place to ensure that teachers from overseas meet the standards set for teachers based in the United Kingdom.

Ruth Kelly: Overseas teachers are subject to the same vetting procedures as UK teachers. However, where staff are recruited from countries outside the UK, the CRB or List 99 may not be appropriate, particularly when they are newly arrived. We currently advise employers to take extra care in other checks on overseas candidates and to seek information as to any criminal history from the authorities in their country of origin wherever possible. The CRB has an information service which can help with this.
	It is important that any checks we have in place are as effective as we can make them, and we are reviewing the current process for vetting overseas teachers.

School Meals

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the amount of Brazilian beef procured for school meals during the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not collect this information.

School Nursing

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding was allocated to school nursing in each of the past 10 years;
	(2)  what action she is taking to ensure school nurses have sufficient (a) time and (b) resources to provide a full range of services for children.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Historically, allocations for school nurses were not determined centrally and until the September national health service work force census, the school nurse establishment was not identified separately from other services for children. The 2004 census showed there were 2,409 (91,619 full-time equivalent) qualified nurses working in the school nursing service.
	The Choosing Health White Paper made a commitment to provide new funding for school nursing so that by 2010, every primary care trust (PCT) working with children's trusts and local authorities, will be resourced to have at least one full-time qualified school nurse working with each cluster of primary schools and its related secondary school. Roll out will start from 2006–07 in the 20 per cent. of PCTs with the worst health deprivation indicators (spearhead PCTs). There are 3,122 secondary schools.
	The identified funding for school nurses is £20 million in the 2006–07 allocation, and £42 million in 2007–08. The majority of the funding is prioritised for spearhead PCTs in 2006–07, with the allocation for 2007–08 shared among all PCTs.
	Our aim is to ensure there is sufficient work force capacity to provide high quality health services in schools. There is scope to reinforce the school nurse role by drawing in other workers and the chief nursing officer has been leading work to modernise the school nurse's role. In the new year, we will be publishing updated material entitled, 'School Nurse Development Pack', which will outline the principles of a modern role and will enable school nurses to expand their knowledge, skills and competencies to further develop their child-centred public health role.

School Staff (Child Protection)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) other school staff have been cautioned for having indecent pictures of children on their computers in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 February 2006
	The information is not available in this form.

Schools

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of additional (a) secondary and (b) primary schools that will be required in Aylesbury Vale to meet planned expansion of housing.

Jacqui Smith: The Government have announced, in the run-up to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, and in response to Kate Barker's review of Housing Supply, a cross-cutting review into supporting housing growth to effectively co-ordinate across departments the strategic delivery of local and regional infrastructure necessary to support additional housing.
	DfES rely on local authorities for planning additional schools in their area. This is because local authorities are in the best position to asses, in the light of existing schools1 provision, whether additional (a) secondary and (b) primary schools are required in areas of planned expansion of housing.

Schools

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the level of debt carried by schools in Cambridgeshire.

Jacqui Smith: Based on latest section 52 outturn statements received from local education authorities for the financial year 2004–05, 21 schools in Cambridgeshire had deficit balances totalling £2.7 million; 227 schools had credit balances totalling £17.1 million; and two schools had zero balances. It is for the local authority to distribute funding to its schools using its locally agreed funding formula, and it is for schools governing bodies to decide how to spend their available resources.
	While schools are responsible for their own financial management, where a school is in deficit, it has to agree a three year recovery plan with the local authority to eliminate it. New school funding arrangements starting this year to replace annual budgets with multi-year ones will also help these schools better plan and manage their finances.

Services Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will revise the Pupil Level Annual Census to include children of servicemen and women; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Data on all pupils in maintained schools and non-maintained special schools in England is collected via the school census. This includes data on the children of servicemen and women attending schools in England. Although there is no mandatory requirement for service education schools located abroad to provide this information, they do provide individual pupil data in line with the school census on a voluntary basis. Currently however there is no provision to separately identify details on the children of servicemen and women within the school census.

Sex and Relationships Education

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland have been rated (i) unsatisfactory, (ii) poor and (iii) very poor by Ofsted in sex and relationships education;
	(2)  how many schools in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland were without a sex and relationships education policy on their last visit by Ofsted inspectors.

Jacqui Smith: These are matters for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 24 January 2006
	Your recent parliamentary questions have been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	In PQ 45113 you asked how many schools in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland have been rated (i) unsatisfactory, (ii) poor and (iii) very poor by Ofsted in sex and relationships education. Ofsted inspectors do not make this type of judgement thus we are unable to provide any further details.
	In PQ 45114 you asked how many schools in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland were without a sex and relationships education policy on their last visit by Ofsted inspectors.
	Inspectors have never specifically reported about the lack of policy on sex and relationship education. However, between January 2000 and July 2005 they were asked if there was evidence of non-compliance with policies relating to sex and relationship education. The table overleaf shows the responses recorded for schools in England, the Tees Valley and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.
	
		Is there evidence of non-compliance with policies relating to sex and relationship education? January 2000 to July 2005(20)
		
			  Number of schools 
			  England Tees Valley Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 
		
		
			 Primary schools
			 No 17,088 210 86 
			 Yes 118 1 1 
			 Secondary schools
			 No 3,117 38 16 
			 Yes 48 1 0 
		
	
	(20) In the period 2000/2003 inspectors were asked about non-compliance in sex education; from 2003 to 2005 the judgement related to non-compliance in sex and relationship education.
	A copy of this response has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Sex Offenders

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many referrals have been made to the Protection of Children Act list since it was established; and how many referrals have resulted in a name being added to the list.

Ruth Kelly: 1,141 referrals have been made to the Protection of Children of Children Act List since it was established and 451 names have been added to the list.

Sex Offenders

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many persons in the employment of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have convictions or cautions for sex offences; and how many of those have responsibility for policy or implementation of policy in relation to (a) sex offences, (b) List 99, (c) teacher recruitment and (d) related areas.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 26 January 2006
	We are not aware of anyone working for DfES who is, or has been on the Sex Offenders Register.
	The Department undertakes 'Character Enquiry' checks prior to any unconditional offers of employment being made as part of its recruitment procedures. The procedure requires potential recruits to complete a stencil detailing any current or previous criminal convictions. Any declared convictions are followed up by obtaining details directly from the relevant courts. Decisions on whether the information would prevent the Department from offering the individual an appointment are taken as appropriate at this stage.
	Additionally, procedures are in place for serving staff to report any convictions received since their employment with the Department commenced. If the position requires working in direct contact with children or vulnerable adults, Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks are carried out prior to any unconditional offers of employment being made. The information is available to staff and managers via the Department's Intranet. Personal criminal convictions, are potentially disciplinary issues, as is the failure to declare a conviction.

Specialist and Academy Schools Trust

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) allowances, (b) expenses and (c) other moneys from public funds have been paid to Lord Levy in connection with his role as president of the Specialist and Academy Schools Trust.

Jacqui Smith: Lord Levy does not receive any public funds in connection with his role as president of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. His appointment is a matter for the trust and he receives no remuneration for this.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the statutory instruments introduced by her Department since 6 May 2005.

Maria Eagle: As of 3 February 2006, my Department has produced 106 statutory instruments since 6 May 2005. Of these, 81 were general and 25 were local. Four of the general statutory instruments were Orders in Council. These related to appointments to the Office for Standards in Education (England) (Ofsted). A list of general statutory instruments by the DfES from 6 May 2005 to 2 February 2006 has been placed in the Libraries.

Teachers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers of (a) Australian, (b) New Zealand, (c) South African, (d) Malawian, (e) Ghanaian, (f) Namibian, (g) Kenyan and (h) Nigerian origin have been dismissed from teaching posts in the past five years because of criminal activity in (i) their country of origin and (ii) the United Kingdom.

Ruth Kelly: My Department does not collect this information.

Teachers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure that teachers of (a) Australian, (b) New Zealand, (c) South African, (d) Malawian, (e) Ghanaian, (f) Namibian, (g) Kenyan and (h) Nigerian origin do not have criminal histories in (i) their country of origin and (ii) the United Kingdom which would make them unfit to teach under departmental guidelines.

Ruth Kelly: Overseas teachers are subject to the same vetting procedures as UK teachers. However, where staff are recruited from countries outside the UK, the CRB or List 99 check may not be appropriate, particularly when they are newly arrived. We currently advise employers to take extra care in other checks on overseas candidates and to seek information as to any criminal history from the authorities in their country of origin wherever possible. The CRB has an information service which can help with this.
	It is important that any checks we have in place are as effective as we can make them, and we are reviewing the current process for vetting overseas teachers.

Teachers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers of (a) Australian, (b) New Zealand, (c) South African, (d) Malawian, (e) Ghanaian, (f) Namibian, (g) Kenyan and (h) Nigerian nationality have had their applications for teaching posts in the United Kingdom rejected because of previous criminal convictions in each of the past five years.

Ruth Kelly: The Department does not collect this information.

Teachers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers of (a) Australian, (b) New Zealand, (c) South African, (d) Malawian, (e) Ghanaian, (f) Namibian, (g) Kenyan and (h) Nigerian nationality who are working in schools in the UK have a criminal record in (i) their country of origin and (ii) the UK.

Ruth Kelly: My Department does not collect this information.

Teachers

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many (a) teachers and (b) full-time equivalent teaching posts there were in schools in West Lancashire constituency in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many (a) classroom assistants and (b) full-time equivalent classroom assistant posts there were in schools in West Lancashire constituency in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants employed in schools in West Lancashire constituency in each January since 1997.
	The full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistant posts in schools in West Lancashire constituency is not collected centrally.
	
		Full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants in maintained sector schools including pupil referral units in West Lancashire constituency
		
			  Teachers Teaching assistants(21) 
		
		
			 1997 820 140 
			 1998 800 150 
			 1999 800 160 
			 2000 800 180 
			 2001 800 220 
			 2002 830 180 
			 2003 810 300 
			 2004 810 320 
			 2005 820 380 
		
	
	(21) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual School Census.

Truancy

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on measures to reduce truancy in schools; what objectives have been set since 1997; and when she expects these will be met on current trends.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 623W, to the Members for Romford and Buckingham and on 7 December 2005, Official Report, column 1344W, to the Member for Chorley. The Department expects schools to take steps to improve attendance and requires all schools to agree targets for improving attendance with their local authority.
	My Department has had two public service agreement (PSA) targets to reduce unauthorised absence. They were in:
	1998—to reduce unauthorised absences by a third by 2002; and
	in 2002—to reduce the 2002 level of unauthorised absence by 10 per cent. by 2004.
	Neither of these targets was met. We are now focused on improving attendance levels through tackling all forms of absence because attendance correlates to pupils' attainment levels and subsequent life chances, while continuing to prioritise truants within this approach. The PSA target agreed in 2004 is, therefore, to reduce the 2002/03 level of absence (i.e. both authorised and unauthorised combined) of 6.83 per cent. by 8 per cent. by 2008. Since 2002/03 there has been a reduction in absences of 5.7 per cent. which is over two-thirds of the way towards the PSA target.

Young Sex Offenders

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she collects on the number of pupils who have (a) convictions and (b) cautions for sex offences who are in schools; of how many such pupils she is aware; and what advice she gives to schools on the (i) inclusion and (ii) management of such pupils.

Ruth Kelly: The Department does not collect this information. Guidance on working with children and young people who abuse others is included in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children', the core inter-agency guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance his Department (a) is providing and (b) plans to provide to the Afghan Government to tackle the problem of heroin production.

Adam Ingram: Counter-narcotics (CN) operations are the responsibility of the Government of Afghanistan. United Kingdom forces deployed under the international security assistance force (ISAF) in Afghanistan contribute to the broader CN effort by helping to provide the secure environment in which the rule of law can be applied, reconstruction can take place and legal rural livelihoods can be developed.
	Under NATO's operational plan for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, UK forces under ISAF can also provide, within means and capabilities, training and operational support to Afghan CN forces. They do not have a direct role in targeted interdiction operations or in eradication of opium poppy in the fields.

Afghanistan

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops each country which has participated in the operation in Afghanistan has provided for active service in each year since the start of the war.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources are being allocated by the Department to protect (a) engineers and (b) teachers from attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: British troops in Afghanistan are deployed primarily under the NATO-led international security assistance force (ISAF), which helps the Government of Afghanistan to maintain security and to extend its authority across all of the country. In doing so, ISAF helps create a secure environment in which the rule of law can be applied, reconstruction and development can take place, and teachers and others can carry out their work.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the threat posed by the use of improvised explosive devices in Helmand Province to UK armed services personnel.

Adam Ingram: We continuously assess all threats to UK armed forces personnel wherever they are deployed. It is true that the operating environment in the South of Afghanistan is less benign than in the ISAF's current area of operation, and improvised explosive devices do pose a threat. The safety of our troops is paramount and our troops will deploy with appropriate force protection, tactics and procedures.

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what agreement between the UK and the Afghan Government has governed the arrest and detention of prisoners captured in Afghanistan since the UK led the first international security assistance force (ISAF) deployment to Kabul in 2001; and what agreement between the UK and the Government of Afghanistan will govern the arrest and detention of prisoners captured during ISAF operations in the Helmand province.

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been agreed between the British and Afghanistan Governments in relation to the arrest and detention of suspects captured by international security assistance forces personnel.

Adam Ingram: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence stated on 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1078W, troops deployed under international security assistance forces (ISAF) are able to arrest and detain by virtue of the authorisations permitting use of all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate contained in, most recently, UNSCR 1623 (2005), and by agreement with the Government of Afghanistan. ISAF policy is that individuals should be transferred to the Afghan authorities at the first opportunity and within 96 hours or released.
	There is currently no separate agreement specifically on detention between the United Kingdom and the Government of Afghanistan, and we will continue to act under the above agreements.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role of Ascension Island in the United Kingdom's defence strategy.

Adam Ingram: Ascension Island fulfils a strategic role as a staging post in support of our Defence interests in the South Atlantic. This role will continue for as long as necessary to protect the right of self-determination of the inhabitants of the South Atlantic Overseas Territories.

Brazilian Beef

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the amount of Brazilian beef procured for departmental establishments in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: For the financial year 2004–05, the total value of Brazilian beef procured for the British armed forces worldwide was approximately £3.7 million.

Civil Servants (Overseas Visits)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what costs were incurred by his Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years.

Don Touhig: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel is conducted in accordance with the guidelines set out in the civil service management code and in the most cost-effective manner.

Civilian Prisoners (Japan)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many compensation payments to civilian prisoners of the Japanese were made before the introduction of the birth link criterion; and on what basis they were paid.

Don Touhig: In view of my statement to the House on 12 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1119–21, reliable information is not currently available on how many payments to civilians interned by the Japanese were made before the introduction of the birthlink criterion. During my attendance at the evidence session of the Public Administration Select Committee on 1 December 2005, I announced that I had set in hand a review to look at the criteria used for deciding claims under the ex-gratia payment scheme. As part of this, we are examining when the birthlink criterion was applied for deciding applications from former civilian internees. I expect the review to conclude shortly. I will make a further statement to the House on the findings of the review as soon as possible thereafter.

Correspondence

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter of 11 November 2005 by the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire on Gulf War Syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: I replied to the hon. Member on 10 February.

Defence Export Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Alan Garwood's contract as Head of Defence Export Services ends; what steps have been taken to appoint a successor; who will be on the appointment panel; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Mr. Alan Garwood was seconded to the Ministry of Defence in September 2002 on a three-year contract with the possibility to extend the contract to a maximum of five years. The contract has already been extended to cover the period to September 2006. No action is yet required to find a successor.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new personnel were employed in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in each year since 2002.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Defence Training Review

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) direct and (b) indirect jobs are provided by the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering, Cosford, in (i) Shropshire and (ii) the West Midlands region.

Don Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 February 2006, Official Report, columns 701–02W to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. McFadden).

Defence Vetting Agency

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether civilian staff may be employed on his Department's premises before basic security check by the Defence Vetting Agency has been carried out.

Adam Ingram: Ministry of Defence policy requires a Basic Check (BC) to be carried out for all civil servants, including casual, temporary and work experience staff, prior to the date from which they start their employment. The Basic Check forms part of the MOD's system of protection against risks from terrorism, espionage and crime by providing assurance about the identity and integrity of individuals who have access to MOD assets and establishments. Exceptionally, in the case of short term contractors who only require physical access to MOD sites (with no access to classified information) for less than two weeks, there is provision for the requirement for BC to be waived, providing that measures are taken by the establishment concerned to control access, including, where possible, escorting.

Defence Vetting Agency

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for (a) security checks and (b) developed vetting the Defence Vetting Agency has processed in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: The following numbers of applications for security checks and developed vetting, including vetting reviews, have been completed in each of the last five complete years. The figures exclude applications that were cancelled during the vetting process:
	
		
			  Security checks Developed vetting Total 
		
		
			 2000–01 86,915 8,682 95,597 
			 2001–02 83,025 7,011 90,036 
			 2002–03 103,330 8,441 111,771 
			 2003–04 100,304 11,611 111,915 
			 2004–05 89,199 10,632 99,831

Departmental Entertainment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on entertainment by his Department in 2004–05; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Don Touhig: Information on expenditure on hospitality and entertainment" for the financial year 2004–05 has been published at Note 3 of our Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
	A breakdown of the total figure by subcategory is not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Expenditure on official entertainment is subject to strict departmental rules and compliance with the principles of propriety set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental Estimates

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will break down the (a) main estimate, (b) winter supplementary estimate and (c) spring supplementary estimate Request for Resources (i) 2 and (ii) 3 provision by (A) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) and (B) indirect resource DEL for financial years 1999–2000 to 2004–05.

John Reid: Prior to the introduction of Stage 2 Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) in financial year 2003–04, indirect RDEL did not exist as a budgeting aggregate, and I therefore provide figures for Request for Resources 2 for financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	
		£ million
		
			   RDEL 
			 RFR2—costs: 2003–05 Total Direct Indirect 
		
		
			 Total conflict prevention costs:  2004–05 1,413.610 1,398.510 15.100 
			 of which:
			 Main estimate 36.700 36.700 0.000 
			 Winter supplementary estimate 1,140.000 1,139.900 0.100 
			 Spring supplementary estimate 236.910 221.910 15.000 
			 
			 Total conflict prevention costs:  2003–04 949.884 916.746 33.138 
			 of which:
			 Main estimate 50.360 50.360 0.000 
			 Winter supplementary estimate 0.000 0.000 0.000 
			 Spring supplementary estimate 899.524 866.386 33.138 
		
	
	Request for Resources 3 is for the payment of war pensions and allowances, which was the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions until financial year 2002–03. All costs are classified as annually managed expenditure (AME), rather than as Resource DEL, and there are no separate direct and indirect controls on AME. The total figures published in the estimates, are therefore not split between direct and indirect elements. Copies of the estimates are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will break down the Request for Resources (a) 2 and (b) 3 outturn by (i) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) and (ii) indirect resource DEL for financial years 1999–2000 to 2004–05;
	(2)  if he will break down each of the figures for conflict prevention costs in (a) note 2 page 188, (b) note 2 page 159 and (c) note 2 page 135 of his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2004–05 (HC 1080) by (i) direct resource departmental expenditure limit (DEL) and (ii) indirect resource DEL.

John Reid: Prior to the introduction of Stage 2 Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) in financial year 2003–04, indirect RDEL did not exist as a budgeting aggregate, and I therefore provide figures for Request for Resources 2 for financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 in the following table. These are the same figures as those disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts 2004–05 page 188 note 2 (HC464) and 2003–04 page 159 note 2 (HC1080), to which I assume the hon. Member refers.
	
		£ million
		
			  Outturn RDEL direct RDEL indirect 
		
		
			 Total conflict prevention costs: 2004–05 938 865 73 
			 Of which:
			 Balkans (Bosnia/Kosovo) 85 75 10 
			 Afghanistan 58 58 0 
			 Iraq 747 684 63 
			 Conflict Prevention Programme 48 48 0 
			 
			 Total conflict prevention costs: 2003–04 1,233 1,089 144 
			 Of which:
			 Balkans (Bosnia/Kosovo) 103 94 9 
			 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 1 0 
			 Afghanistan 36 34 2 
			 Iraq 1,051 918 133 
			 Sierra Leone 1 1 0 
			 EUFYROM 1 1 0 
			 Conflict Prevention Programme 40 40 0 
		
	
	Request for Resources 3 is for the payment of war pensions and allowances, and all costs disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts for each year since the introduction of RAB are classified as annually managed expenditure (AME), rather than as resource DEL. There are no separate direct and indirect controls on AME. The outturn figures for each year are published in the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 2002–03 onwards, which are available in the Library of the House. Prior to that the Veterans Agency (formerly the War Pensions Agency), which administers these payments, was the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions, and the Ministry of Defence did not have a Request for Resources 3.

Departmental Staff

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence last changed its London Weighting allowance in 2002 as part of its four year pay settlement which concluded in 2005. London Weighting will be one of a number of issues being considered during this year's pay negotiations.

Depression/Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are suffering from (a) clinical depression and (b) post-traumatic stress disorder.

Don Touhig: Figures are not held centrally on the total number of Service personnel who are suffering from clinical depression or post traumatic stress disorder and this could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Eurofighter Typhoon

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 667W, on RAF aircraft, whether the current estimated cost of Eurofighter Typhoon is (a) substantially below, (b) substantially above and (c) similar to the original cost.

Adam Ingram: In view of the commercial sensitivity of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, it remains inappropriate to provide any indication of its current estimated cost.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed departmental requirements in Gibraltar with the (a) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (b) Governor of Gibraltar and (c) Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to change Gibraltar's current military role, which centres on providing a forward mounting base and other facilities to support overseas operations. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had no discussions on this issue with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Governor of Gibraltar or the Chief Minister of Gibraltar.

Gulf War Syndrome

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many representations his Department has received on Gulf War Syndrome; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations the Government has received on Gulf War Syndrome; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Government has received a significant number of representations about Gulf War Syndrome over the years. It places a high priority on addressing the concerns of 1990–91 Gulf veterans and we continue to respond to representations from parliamentarians and others on various issues relating to Gulf veterans' illnesses, including Gulf War Syndrome. We remain committed to providing medical assistance through the Medical Assessment Programme, financial support through the War Pensions Scheme and armed forces occupational schemes. We have commissioned a large amount of research on these illnesses and remain committed to openness in response to this complex issue.
	As indicated in my written statement of 24 November 2005, Official Report, columns 128–29WS, the Government was pleased to note the recent decision of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal (PAT) in the case of former Guardsman Daniel Martin which accepted the use of Gulf War Syndrome as an umbrella term to cover accepted conditions which are causally linked to the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. We hope that the use of the umbrella term will address the known concern of some Gulf veterans that we have not recognised a link between their ill-health and the 1990–91 Gulf conflict. The PAT decision also confirmed our position that there is insufficient reliable evidence to indicate that Gulf War Syndrome exists as a discrete pathological entity, or in other words as a recognised disease.

Gulf War-related Illnesses

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what analysis was made by the Government of the RAND report on pyridostigmine bromide before ordering its use during Operation Telic.

Don Touhig: The RAND Report entitled A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses, Volume 2: Pyridostigmine Bromide" was published in October 1999. Following its publication, a detailed review and written assessment were produced by the Ministry of Defence's Gulf Veterans Illness Unit. A copy of this is available in the Library of the House.
	In summary, the review presented no new scientific work on pyridostigmine bromide and its possible association with Gulf Veterans Illness; rather it discussed a series of possible hypotheses drawn from speculation and debate at the time. The report did not advance our understanding as to whether pyridostigmine bromide was a contributing factor to illness suffered by Gulf Veterans. MOD has not commissioned any further work on the RAND Report.

Gulf War-related Illnesses

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what weapon systems using propellants and explosives containing pyridines were employed by UK forces during Operation (a) Granby and (b) Telic.

Don Touhig: No weapon systems using propellants and explosives containing pyridines were used by UK forces during either Operation Granby or Operation Telic. There are no explosives or propellants currently in service with UK armed forces that contain pyridine.

Gulf War-related Illnesses

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the decision to provide nerve agent pre-treatment tablets to forces serving during the Iraq war in 2003 was based upon information on chemical weapons in Iraq; what chemical weapons were identified in this information; and for how many of those chemicals the information on use in Iraq was not borne out by the report of the Iraq Survey Group.

Don Touhig: In preparing for operations in Iraq, an assessment was produced on the likely CBRN threats to UK forces. A number of nerve agents were assessed to be available for use by the Iraqi regime. Delivery systems were assessed to include mortars, artillery, rocket artillery, aerial bombs, ballistic missiles, spray tanks and UAVs.
	The decision to issue NAPS, a licensed pre-treatment for nerve agent poisoning, to UK deployed forces and subsequently to order its use was a sensible and prudent measure, partly based upon this assessment and Iraq's previous use of CW during the Iran/Iraq war and against the citizens of Hallabja.
	The Iraq Survey Group did not discover any large scale CW agent production facilities or stockpiles. However, in their findings they judged that Iraq had the intention to pursue WMD programmes when UN sanctions were lifted.

HMS Sheffield

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2341W, on HMS Sheffield, what the timetable is for completion of the departmental review of HMS Sheffield; and what the reasons are for the length of time being taken for the review.

Adam Ingram: The Departmental review is still ongoing but is expected to be completed by spring. Once it is complete I will write to the hon. Member to advise him of the timetable for releasing documents relating to the Board of Inquiry into the loss of HMS Sheffield into the public domain. The BOI report and its associated annexes runs to over 3,000 pages and its disclosure raises many complex issues, including the duty of care to the crew and next of kin, and the need to protect personal data under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. Of necessity, therefore, the review that is in hand is a lengthy process.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2006, Official Report, column 318W, on identity cards, whether his Department has finalised its estimates of the cost of using the Identity Cards Scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has not finalised its estimates of the cost of using the Identity Cards Scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Incapacity Benefit

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) service personnel on long-term sick leave and (b) former service personnel are claiming incapacity benefit.

Don Touhig: The payment of incapacity benefit is a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions. Former service personnel who are incapable of working due to an illness or injury caused by service before 6 April 2005 may receive an unemployability allowance from the Ministry of Defence and are precluded from receiving incapacity benefit. Any personnel categorised as medically downgraded are still on the Ministry of Defence pay roll and would not be eligible for incapacity benefit.

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total strength was of UK forces in Iraq in each month since May 2003; and what he expects the figure to be by May 2006.

Adam Ingram: At the peak of the UK troop commitment in Iraq, there were some 46,000 British forces personnel committed to Operation Telic. The figures in the following table record the numbers deployed (rounded to the nearest hundred) on the last day of each month since then. Around 15 per cent. of the troops on Operation Telic will be stationed outside Iraq, supporting the operation from aboard ships, or from airfields or other bases outside the country.
	
		
			 As at end (date) Troops on Telic 
		
		
			 War-fighting phase c.46,000 
			 May 2003 17,900 
			 June 2003 9,600 
			 July 2003 10,500 
			 August 2003 9,600 
			 September 2003 9,900 
			 October 2003 (22)10,500 
			 November 2003 9,200 
			 December 2003 9,000 
			 January 2004 9,700 
			 February 2004 9,000 
			 March 2004 9,000 
			 April 2004 (22)9,000 
			 May 2004 9,800 
			 June 2004 9,500 
			 July 2004 9,400 
			 August 2004 9,200 
			 September 2004 9,200 
			 October 2004 (22)11,200 
			 November 2004 10,300 
			 December 2004 9,700 
			 January 2005 9,700 
			 February 2005 9,600 
			 March 2005 9,200 
			 April 2005 (22)11,400 
			 May 2005 9,700 
			 June 2005 10,000 
			 July 2005 10,100 
			 August 2005 9,500 
			 September 2005 9,400 
			 October 2005 (22)11,000 
			 November 2005 9,200 
			 December 2005 9,600 
			 January 2006 9,600 
		
	
	(22) Roulement.
	The numbers deployed in May 2006 will depend on the prevailing conditions during the period of transition in which the new Government is forming.

Iraq

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops in Iraq have been issued with improved coverage body armour.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2006
	There are three types of body armour used on Operation Telic. Enhanced combat body armour has been standard issue for all troops. Over 3,000 sets of enhanced personal protection equipment (known as 'Kestrel') have been issued to 'top cover' sentries. Following recent successful trials, the first 200 of over 9,000 sets of the improved performance body armour ('Osprey') have been despatched this month, with the remainder due in theatre by May.

Joint Strike Fighter

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the UK has had with the US Administration in the last six months on (a) the cost of and (b) technology transfer in relation to the Joint Strike Fighter project.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's contribution remains fixed at $2 billion for the current system development and demonstration phase of the programme. There is regular dialogue with the United States Administration on the potential costs of the follow-on sustainment phase of the programme and technology transfer. The US Administration are aware of our requirements for the necessary Joint Strike Fighter technical information to meet our sovereign requirements. These will need to be satisfied before we are able to commit to the next phase of the project.

Military Explosive Manufacturing

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which military explosives will continue to be manufactured in the United Kingdom following proposed closures of former Royal Ordnance factories;
	(2)  from which countries he expects United Kingdom armed forces to obtain military explosives after the proposed closure of former Royal Ordnance factories.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2006
	As set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, we aim to retain a substantive and flexible capability in the final stages of the general munitions manufacturing process, specifically fill, assemble and pack. We do not, however, consider it necessary to retain all aspects of bulk explosives manufacture in the UK; although we do intend to retain a capability in the manufacture of Polymer Bonded Explosives (PBX) for artillery ammunition and demolition explosives on shore. PBX will continue to be manufactured at the BAE Systems Land Systems (BAES LS) facility at Glascoed following implementation of the company's recently announced rationalisation plans.
	Decisions on sourcing explosives are principally a matter for BAES LS. However, as set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, we intend to retain an on shore capability to manufacture PBX.

Military Explosive Manufacturing

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what long-term plans he has for the security of supply of military explosives for UK forces.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2006
	As set out in the recently published Defence Industrial Strategy the MOD's long-term plans for general munitions are being taken forward through Project MASS (Munitions Acquisition, The Supply Solution), which seeks to ensure long term security of supply for general munitions and deliver value for money.

Military Explosive Manufacturing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of work being carried out at the former Chorley Royal Ordnance site for his Department's contracts.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 February 2006
	BAE Systems Land Systems is responsible for the security of supply of items currently manufactured at Chorley and will remain so after the closure of the site. Detailed plans on how they intend to achieve this without impacting on their delivery of existing contracts have been provided to MOD and we remain confident in their ability to do so. These plans are, however, commercial in nature and it would not be to the benefit of the company or MOD to release them.

Opposition Visits

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the formal visits undertaken by official Opposition spokespersons which were funded by his Department over the last two years.

Don Touhig: holding answer 7 December 2005
	The information relating to the principal official Opposition spokespersons is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Date of visit Member of Parliament Place visited 
		
		
			 *17–18 December 2003 The right hon. Nicholas Soames MP Accompanied Minister of State for the Armed Forces to Iraq 
			 2 March 2004 The right hon. Nicholas Soames MP HQ Brussels 
			 4 March 2004 The right hon. Nicholas Soames MP RAF Cranwell 
			 17 June 2004 Paul Keetch MP Hereford Cocktail Party 
			 1 July 2004 The right hon. Nicholas Soames MP Tidworth 
			 6 July 2004 The right hon. Nicholas Soames MP PJHQ 
			 17 November 2004 The right hon. Nicholas Soames MP Defence Procurement Agency 
			 22–23 November 2005 The right hon. Michael Ancram MP Afghanistan 
		
	
	Note:
	Other than the visit starred no costs other than lunch, refreshments and travel by car to and from the base fell to the MOD budget.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) servicemen and (b) ex-servicemen have received treatment for post traumatic stress disorder or related conditions in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Figures are not held centrally on the total number of service personnel who have received treatment for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or related conditions and this could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	We do not hold information on the treatment received by ex-service personnel because the NHS has responsibility for the treatment of ex-service personnel suffering from both mental and physical disorders. We can, however, provide data regarding the number of ex-service personnel who have claimed for a war pension. Between 1 October 2004 and 30 September 2005 (the most recent 12 month period for which data is currently available), some 320 ex-service personnel made a successful war pensions claim where one of the accepted conditions related to the individual's service was PTSD or a related condition.
	For those ex-service personnel whose condition is due to service and for whom it is appropriate, courses of remedial care are funded at facilities provided by the charity, Combat Stress. For the year ending December 2005, funding was some £2.8 million.

Service Children's Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of military bases (a) in England and (b) overseas have (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools located on them; and how many pupils attend these schools.

Don Touhig: Within the United Kingdom, service children attend local education authority schools, but information on how many and what proportion of military bases have schools located on them and how many pupils attend these schools is not held centrally.
	Overseas, Service Children's Education (SCE)—an MOD agency—operates a total of 36 primary, two middle and six secondary schools. Currently some 10,200 pupils attend these schools. All of these schools are located within garrison areas, and 15 are sited on a military base.

Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original timetable was for the development of strategic tanker aircraft; what the current timetable is; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is a prospective PFI project currently in the assessment phase. As such, it does not have a formally approved development programme or date for introduction to service.
	Negotiations with industry are ongoing.

US Interrogation Centres

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals detained by UK forces in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan who have been handed over to US forces have subsequently been transferred to US interrogation centres in each year since 2001.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 1083W.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training has been provided to magistrates in (a) England and Wales and (b) Northern Ireland on the use of antisocial behaviour orders in each of the last two years; and what the cost of the training provided was in each year.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Studies Board (JSB) is responsible for the provision of guidance and training materials for magistrates in England and Wales. The delivery of training is performed on a local basis. There is currently no central data collected on the information requested and to provide the information would incur disproportionate cost.
	In April 2001, the JSB issued training materials for magistrates in respect of the antisocial behaviour provisions contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. These materials have been updated twice since that date. The latest update was issued in March 2004 and includes changes in the law introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003. The chairman of the JSB Magisterial Committee issued a letter in 2004 to all court areas indicating that the JSB expectation was that all magistrates will receive a minimum of two hours of face to face training on ASBOs within the first 18 months following the implementation of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
	The Magistrates' Court Sentencing Guidelines include guidance on how to deal with breach of an ASBO and lists examples of possible aggravating factors.

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1446W, on audible fire alarms, what plans she has to extend audible fire alarm coverage to all buildings.

Bridget Prentice: It is the policy of my Department that all remises must have an audible fire alarm system. Pursuant to my answer on 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1446W, the locations that do not currently have audible fire alarms have systems in place to manage the fire risk until audible alarms are installed. Works are currently under way in one location to repair an existing system and in another to install a new audible system. The remaining locations will assessed by way of a fire safety risk assessment and audible fire alarms provided when funding is secured.

Baroness Usha Prashar

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she next plans to meet Baroness Usha Prashar.

Harriet Harman: I have no plans to meet Baroness Prashar.

Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group

Tony Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects the Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group to report.

Harriet Harman: In accordance with its then terms of reference the Advisory Group reported to Ministers in December 2002. The group continues to meet for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations for Government. The issues include memorial safety, on which I hope to see proposals later this year.

Census Records

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many requests her Department has received regarding access to census records before 1970 in the last 12 months.

Harriet Harman: The National Archives holds the 1911 and earlier censuses, while censuses from 1921 onwards are in the custody of the Office for National Statistics. Since the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act on 1 January 2005, the National Archives has received 171 specific requests for access to information contained in the 1911 census returns.

Census Records

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent representations her Department has received regarding the denial of public access to census records before 1970.

Harriet Harman: Since the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act on 1 January 2005, the National Archives has received 14 appeals from inquirers who have been denied access to information contained in the 1911 census returns.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many occasions her Department consulted citizens juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the Citizens' Jury.

Harriet Harman: The Department for Constitutional Affairs has not convened any citizens' juries in the last five years. However it has made extensive use of other forms of consultation during that period, ranging from formal consultation papers to an online discussion forum.

Cohabitation

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to reform the law relating to unmarried couples to provide legal protection for cohabitants in the case of relationship breakdown.

Harriet Harman: The Government have no plans to reform the law in this area. The Law Commission is working on a project on cohabitation as part of its ninth programme of law reform. The Law Commission is considering how the law affects cohabiting couples on the termination of their relationship by separation, or death, and the merits of providing greater legal protection. The Government will consider any recommendations made by the Law Commission when it reports in summer 2007.

Commonhold

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) households and (b) developments have adopted commonhold tenures since the introduction of commonhold.

Harriet Harman: As at 26 January 2006, there were seven commonholds registered at Land Registry: six in England and one in Wales. These comprise 97 units. 18 residential units have been transferred to unit-holders.
	No statistics are available for unregistered commonhold developments, but proposals for a £500 million mixed-use commonhold, including up to 2,000 homes, were announced on behalf of the developer on 16 December 2005.

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquiries were referred through to the community legal service by (a) citizens advice bureaux, (b) law centres, (c) high street solicitors and (d) other independent advice centres in the last year for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: A variety of organisations, such as citizens advice bureaux, law centres and high street solicitors, provide advice under the Community Legal Service (CLS). Information is not held centrally on inquiries referred to, or between, CLS providers.

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquiries were submitted through the Community Legal Service network in (a) Leicestershire and (b) England and Wales in each year between 2000 and 2005.

Bridget Prentice: Information is not held centrally on inquiries referred to, or between, Community Legal Service providers. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) record numbers of new matter starts. New matters started in Leicestershire and England and Wales between 2000 and 2005 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  England and Wales Leicestershire 
		
		
			 2000–01 803,828 14,975 
			 2001–02 764,697 11,423 
			 2002–03 811,848 11,986 
			 2003–04 709,769 9,378 
			 2004–05 654,267 7,719 
		
	
	The above represents controlled work; that is the number of cases, or matter starts, the supplier is authorised to start in a particular year under their General Civil Contract as issued by the LSC.

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what was the running cost of the Community Legal Service in each year between 2000 and 2005.

Bridget Prentice: Legal Services Commission payments made in relation to the running of the Community Legal Service for the years 2000–05 are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Payments (£ million) 
		
		
			 2000–01 791.9 
			 2001–02 734.5 
			 2002–03 812.8 
			 2003–04 897.9 
			 2004–05 845.9

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has commissioned on the perceptions of (a) Citizens Advice Bureaux, (b) Law Centres, (c) high street solicitors and (d) other independent legal advice centres of the effectiveness of the Community Legal Service.

Bridget Prentice: The Department commissioned an independent review of the Community Legal Service (CLS) in 2004. This was conducted by Matrix Research and Consultancy. The review looked at how the CLS had impacted on the accessibility of legal advice services and the quality of provision. Key stakeholders and suppliers were consulted on their views and perceptions of the CLS.
	In 2005 the Legal Services Commission published a consultation paper, Making Legal Rights a Reality", outlining its proposals for the future development of the CLS. Key stakeholders and suppliers were consulted on the proposals outlined in the document.

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research she has commissioned on satisfaction of members of the public with the Community Legal Service.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Research Centre (LSRC) has conducted two surveys relating to the Community Legal Service and Civil and Social Justice since 2000 (covering England and Wales). The findings of the first of these surveys are available in the LSRC's Causes of Action: Civil Law and Social Justice" publication.

Community Legal Service

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquiries were referred to the Community Legal Service in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by type.

Bridget Prentice: A variety of organisations, such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and High Street Solicitors, provide advice under the Community Legal Service (CLS). Information is not held centrally on inquiries referred through the Community Legal Service. The information in the table concerns new matters started, and certificates issued, in 2004–05 by suppliers contracted by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to deliver publicly funded advice through the CLS. This information is broken down by category.
	
		
			 Matter type New matter starts Funding certificates granted 
		
		
			 Family 272,903 129,134 
			 Actions Against the Police 4,551 918 
			 Clinical Negligence 3,649 5,672 
			 Community Care 3,426 620 
			 Consumer 3,891 563 
			 Debt 58,253 439 
			 Education 2,646 532 
			 Employment 9,487 88 
			 Housing 83,193 11,834 
			 Immigration 94,236 1,856 
			 Mental Health 30,910 175 
			 Personal Injury 3,137 308 
			 Public Law 1,632 975 
			 Welfare Benefits 72,532 98 
			 Miscellaneous 9,821 1,308 
			 Total 654,267 154,520

Compensation Bill

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of section 1 of the Compensation Bill on the funding of employers' liability cases.

Bridget Prentice: Clause 1 of the Compensation Bill contains a provision relating to the law of negligence, which reflects the existing law and guidance given by the higher courts. It is not anticipated that this provision will have any impact on the funding of employers' liability cases.

Compensation Bill

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the Compensation Bill on the work of small claims courts.

Bridget Prentice: It is not anticipated that the Bill will have any impact on the work of the small claims courts.

Coroners

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the powers of the coroner to conduct inquiries into major public incidents; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I am satisfied that coroners within England and Wales have sufficient powers to hold inquests into fatalities arising from major public incidents. I will be publishing a draft Bill to reform the coroner service, and to improve the law relating to coroners' functions, later this session.

Coroners

James Clappison: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 490W, to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald), on coroners, what is the timetable for the appointment of a judge to conduct inquests into the fatalities arising from the Potters Bar rail crash; and how soon she expects such inquests to be held.

Harriet Harman: I understand that the coroner will proceed to set a date for the inquests and appoint a judge as his deputy once a current application for judicial review of a decision relating to the incident has been resolved.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords were dealt with by her Department in each year since 1995; in respect of what percentage her Department took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The figures, in so far as I am able to provide them, are contained in the following table. I am unable to provide percentage figures for those letters and parliamentary questions that have taken more than one month and more than three months to answer as this information is not collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	My Department endeavours to provide prompt, comprehensive and helpful replies to all correspondence, whether from hon. Members or members of the public, and within the targets it sets for itself; and, where possible, to parliamentary questions within parliamentary deadlines.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The publication of the report for 2004 was announced on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 137–40WS. This and reports for earlier years are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	In 2004 my Department began publishing details of its performance on correspondence from members of the public. A copy of the report is available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Letters received from hon. Members 4,641 2,876 2,458 2,672 2,038 1,844 1,737 2,577 2,746 3,416 3,179 
			 Percentage of letters from hon. Members  answered within 20 working days 81 68 76 82 82 76 74 54 49 64 92 
			 Letters received from members of the public — — — — 5,961 6,508 6,766 6,505 7,790 11,933 4,846 
			 Percentage of letters from members of the  public answered within 15 working days — — — — 69 61 72 87 85 76 81

Courts Act 2003

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people convicted of offences have (a) failed to furnish a statement of their financial circumstances in response to an official request and (b) been prosecuted for failing to do so under section 95 of the Courts Act 2003 in the last two years.

Harriet Harman: The information is as follows.
	(a) Information on the non-provision of means information by offenders is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(b) To date, no offenders have been prosecuted for failure to provide means information under section 95 of the Courts Act 2003.

Data Sharing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the technical specifications for the co-ordinated Online Record of Electors will allow two-way data-sharing with the proposed identity cards database.

Harriet Harman: The technical specifications for CORE will be drafted in the light of responses to the current consultation paper on providing national access to local electoral registration data. There is currently no proposal for these specifications to provide for two-way data-sharing with the proposed identity cards register.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much and what proportion of her Department's catering budget was spent on Fair Trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: Catering services to meet my Department's requirements are contracted out and provided by commercial suppliers. Consequently, my Department does not procure Fair Trade produce directly.
	However, a proportion of spend on Fair Trade produce against total food purchases by commercial suppliers providing catering services to my Department is set out in the following table. These figures relate to financial year 2004–05.
	
		£
		
			 Total food purchases Proportion spent on fair trade produce 
		
		
			 2,796,582 171,641

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her Department's policy is on the procurement of Fair Trade produce for consumption on its premises.

Bridget Prentice: My Department does not currently have a specific policy in relation to Fair Trade produce.
	Catering services to meet my Department's requirements are contracted out and provided by commercial suppliers. Consequently, my Department does not procure Fair Trade produce directly.
	However, within the overarching objective of achieving best value, my Department encourages its suppliers to make use of Fair Trade produce.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent by her Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible to provide details of how much the Department spent on refreshments in each year since 1997 without incurring disproportionate costs.
	However, for overall expenditure on entertainment for the Department from 1998–99 to 30 November 2004, I would like to refer the hon. Member to a previous PQ tabled by the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) answered on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 118W.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety that is based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

Departmental IT Systems

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much her Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the outturn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion was of each system.

Harriet Harman: The expenditure on IT systems since 1997 is contained within three main areas; Crown and county courts, magistrates courts and headquarters. These three areas are covered by separate contracts: LOCCS, ARAMIS and the LIBRA contracts. Details of the individual contracts are as follows:
	LOCCS (Local County Court System) provides operational IT systems to Her Majesty's Courts Service.
	Expenditure for each year was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 5.92 
			 1999–2000 14.35 
			 2000–01 24.9 
			 2001–02 33.4 
			 2002–03 17.5 
			 2003–04 41.46 
			 2004–05 25.13 
		
	
	ARAMIS (Resource Accounting and Management Information System) provides accounting, financial, HR/payroll and management information services to the Department.
	Expenditure for each year was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 3.07 
			 1998–99 13.54 
			 1999–2000 14.47 
			 2000–01 18.5 
			 2001–02 18.39 
			 2002–03 24.74 
			 2003–04 28.54 
			 2004–05 31 
		
	
	The LIBRA contracts
	The first part of the Libra Project provided new IT infrastructure and office automation for the magistrates courts. The second part of the project will deliver a national case management system.
	Expenditure on the Libra contracts for each year was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 11.2 
			 2001–02 22 
			 2002–03 68 
			 2003–04 79.6 
			 2004–05 65.25 
		
	
	All three are overarching contracts through which large numbers of IT projects have been delivered since 1997. Information about individual projects could now be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of maintaining her main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Bridget Prentice: The cost of maintaining my Department's main website is part of a larger contract with Cable and Wireless to provide hosting services for all of my department's associated websites and as such figures cannot be provided for a single website. The full contract totals £555,096 per annum.
	For the period January to December 2005, the number of unique visitors to the Department for Constitutional Affair's website were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 January 242,261 
			 February 213,170 
			 March 204,306 
			 April 240,528 
			 May 206,200 
			 June 212,799 
			 July 198,081 
			 August 192,775 
			 September 247,441 
			 October 278,636 
			 November 315,111 
			 December 215,087

Deputy Lieutenants (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2006, Official Report, columns 150–51W, on deputy lieutenants (Lancashire), in which geographical area each of the existing deputy lieutenants for Lancashire not recently appointed resides.

Harriet Harman: There are 14 administrative areas in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, including 20 districts of Lancashire county council, and the two unitary authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. According to this measure of geography, the areas in which each of those existing deputy lord lieutenants for Lancashire reside (excluding those six most recently appointed) are as follows:
	Blackpool
	Armfield, James OBE DL
	Beilby, Stephen JP DL
	Gledhill, Keith MBE DL
	Blackburn
	Master, Ibrahim DL
	Burnley
	Entwistle, John DL
	Chorley
	De Hoghton, Sir Bernard Bt DL
	Duckworth, His Honour Judge Brian DL
	Goodall, William DL
	Cumbria
	Duckworth, Mrs. Judith JP DL
	Fylde
	Dowling, Mrs. Marlene JP DL
	Evans, Sir Richard CBE DL
	Vasudev, Dr. Kadaba DL
	Hyndburn
	Sanderson, Lieutenant Colonel David MBE DL
	Lancaster
	Bowring, Thomas DL
	Henig: The Baroness Henig of Lancaster CBE JP DL
	Holt, John JP DL
	Kerr, Admiral Sir John GCB DL
	Kimber, Timothy DL
	Reynolds, Mrs. Susan DL
	Sharp, Peter DL
	Winterbottom, Max JP DL
	Pendle
	Hughes, Mrs. Susan JP DL
	Mendoros, Dennis OBE DL
	Preston
	Johnson, Gordon DL
	Mileham, Peter DL
	Robertson, (Brigadier) Dr. lain OBE TD QHP DL
	Tailor, Ishwer MBE JP DL
	Wilson, Andrew DL
	Ribble Valley
	Cann, Anthony CBE DL
	Openshaw, Sir Peter DL
	Parker, Robert DL
	Robinson, Peter DL
	Swarbrick, Rodney CBE DL
	Rossendale
	Oates, Mrs. Gloria OBE DL
	Shepherd, Robert JP DL
	Trippier, Colonel Sir David RD JP DL
	South Ribble
	Ashworth, Professor Graham CBE DL
	Jolley, Colonel Alan TD DL
	West Lancashire
	Clare, Mrs. Pauline CBE QPM DL
	Gray, Bryan MBE DL
	Moores, Sir Peter CBE DL
	Robinson, John JP DL
	Stanley, Mrs. Gail MBE JP DL
	Wyre
	Gandhi, Ramesh JP DL
	Moores, James JP DL

Domestic Violence

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training courses were provided for (a) magistrates and (b) district judges on domestic violence in each region since 2003; what percentage of each attended courses in each region in this period; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Judicial training is the responsibility of the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), an independent body chaired by Lord Justice Keene. The JSB organises its training for the professional judiciary, including district judges (magistrates courts), nationally rather than regionally. It provides advice and support to those providing training in the magistrates courts but the training is organised and delivered locally. Data on the provision of magistrates training courses is not currently held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Since the amalgamation of the Court Service and the magistrates courts into HM Courts Service on 1 April 2005, the JSB is putting in place processes to monitor and evaluate the training delivered to magistrates.
	Domestic violence training is not compulsory for magistrates. The JSB offered training for trainers in each region between October 2003 and March 2004 to enable them to provide domestic violence training for magistrates in their local areas. Representatives from all HM Courts Service regions attended these courses which were supported by the publication of a JSB domestic violence training pack for use in the training of magistrates.
	All newly appointed fee-paid judges, and all judges who are authorised to take on new jurisdictions, are required to attend a relevant induction course and normally receive continuation training in each jurisdiction they exercise every three years. district judges (magistrates courts) attend dedicated annual courses. Additionally, they are invited to attend specialist family courses on a three-year cycle. The annual DJ(MC) courses run between 2003 and 2005 did not deal specifically with domestic violence, but the courses planned for 2006 will include a domestic violence session and will be run for both full and part time district judges who sit in magistrates courts. Those expected to attend will constitute 99.3 per cent. of the district judge (magistrates courts) bench. District judges who sit in the county courts attend a dedicated annual seminar which included a session on domestic violence in 2003. They also attend civil and (where appropriate) family law continuation courses every three years. These courses include sessions on domestic violence. In addition to training courses, the JSB has produced training materials for magistrates and judges, which are available in hard copy and electronic form.

Electoral Administration

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 236W, on electoral administration, whether data and information from marked registers will be placed in the co-ordinated online record of electors once it is operational.

Harriet Harman: The particular types of information that the proposed co-ordinated online record of electors should hold once operational is the subject of a current consultation paper, issued by my Department last month.
	In that paper, we raise the possibility that a CORE dataset might in future hold copies of marked registers, and request views on whether or not we should seek to implement that functionality. Decisions on whether or not to proceed with this aspect of CORE will be taken in light of the responses to the consultation, which is due to close on 7 March.

European Court of Human Rights

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has made to her counterparts in other Council of Europe member countries on the proficiency in (a) English and (b) French of judges of the European Court of Human Rights; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: In a recent independent review of the working methods of the European Court of Human Rights, the former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, made 26 recommendations, of which provision of language training to new judges was one. I understand that the President of the Court has welcomed Lord Woolf's report and referred its proposals to the Court's Working Methods Committee.

Freedom of Information Act

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to speed up responses to Freedom of Information Act inquiries made to Government Departments.

Harriet Harman: In the third quarter of 2005 Departments of State responded to Freedom of Information requests within their statutory obligations in an average of 86 per cent. of cases. This figure reflects an increase of 11 per cent. on performance in the second quarter of last year, which in itself had improved significantly on performance in the first quarter.
	However, there is still work to be done and DCA continues to work with departments to improve performance. In particular each Department of State has a dedicated liaison point within DCA to address specific performance issues. The Information Rights Practitioners Conference also provides a regular forum in which officials across Whitehall can share best practice and raise any specific issues with experts both from my Department and elsewhere in Government.

Freedom of Information Act

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which local authorities are complying with the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Department for Constitutional Affairs does not directly monitor Freedom of Information Act compliance in local government in order to avoid imposing an administrative burden. However, independent surveys and reports in the regional press indicate that FOI is working well in local government, and a great deal of new information is being released to local communities.
	Compliance with the Act is regulated by the independent Information Commissioner, who has statutory powers of investigation.

HM Court Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposal put forward by HM Court Service to merge the three local justice areas of Chorley, Ormskirk and South Ribble.

Harriet Harman: The proposed alteration of the Chorley, Ormskirk and South Ribble Local Justice Areas is presently subject to the formal consultation procedures contained in section 8 of the Courts Act, 2003. The consultation period expires on 3 February 2006 and the Area Director for HMCS, Lancashire will consider the responses, prepare a summary of same and determine whether to submit a formal proposal to the Lord Chancellor. The outcome of this process will be published in due course.

HM Court Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what costings have been carried out by HM Court Service in relation to the proposals to merge the three local justice areas of Chorley, Ormskirk and South Ribble.

Harriet Harman: No detailed costings have been carried out regarding the proposal, which is predicated on the need to improve the service afforded to court users and the provision of an equal opportunity for all magistrates in the South West Lancashire area to carry out a fair share of the work of the courts in that area. The proposal does not involve any capital expenditure and the likely impact on revenue expenditure is expected to be cost neutral.

HM Court Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on how the principle of local magistrates sitting on local courts will be sustained under the proposals to merge the proposed merger of the three local justice areas of Chorley, Ormskirk and South Ribble.

Harriet Harman: The consultation paper seeks views on the proposal to combine the local justice areas referred to above and it is expected that, if the proposal goes ahead, local magistrates will be based at a local courthouse in which matters affecting the local community are likely to be heard and will sit there for the majority of their time. It seeks to assure consultees that no courthouse closures are planned. Existing magistrates will be invited and any new magistrates appointed to the combined area will be expected to sit elsewhere in the South West Lancashire area from their base court, subject to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995, to enable the development of a more responsive and flexible service to the communities that the courts serve.

Information Commissioner

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what meetings she has held with the Information Commissioner in the last 12 months; what issues were discussed at these meetings; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Information Commissioner is an independent body created by statute. He has responsibilities for handling complaints made to him under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998. I have had no
	meetings with the Commissioner. However my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor meets regularly with the Information Commissioner to discuss issues of mutual interest, covering both Freedom of Information and Data Protection. At some of these meeting he is accompanied by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Baroness Ashton. Baroness Ashton has also met the Information Commissioner separately to discuss issues of both Freedom of Information and Data Protection.
	These issue have included such matters as the implementation and operation of Freedom of Information in its first full year, the promotion of public understanding of Freedom of Information and Data Protection, the promotion of best practice among authorities subject to the Acts, and the Commissioner's report on his work in 2004–05 and his plans for his office in 2005–06 and 2006–07.

Information Commissioner

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints the Information Commissioner has received about the time taken by his office to handle cases.

Harriet Harman: The Information Commissioner is an independent body created by statute with responsibility for handling complaints made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The Commissioner's Office has not routinely maintained statistics relating to complaints about the length of time it has taken to handle cases. Any complaints received are treated in accordance with the Information Commissioner's policy in complaints. This policy has recently been updated and from 1 February 2006, the office has maintained a database of information about complaints received which include the reason for the complaint.
	Since the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act, the Commissioner has also received 17 FOI requests relating to the time taken to close cases.

Information Commissioner

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many appeals have been received by the Information Commissioner's officer against refusals to release information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and how many of these appeals have (a) been upheld, (b) been rejected and (c) yet to be determined.

Harriet Harman: The Information Commissioner's Office receives appeals under the Freedom of Information Act and the related Environmental Information Regulations on a range of matters and not only refusals to release information including complaints about failure to comply with time limits.
	Not all complaints result in a formal decision by the Commissioner. Many are resolved informally, withdrawn or remitted to the public authority. The total number of Freedom of Information Act complaints outstanding on 31 December 2005 was 1,325.
	Of the 1,060 cases closed during 2005, 135 have resulted in formal Decision notices being issued by the Commissioner. In 70 cases the complaint was upheld, in 44 cases the complaint was not upheld and in 21 cases the complaint was partially upheld.

Information Commissioner

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints the Information Commissioner is dealing with; and what the average amount of time taken to deal with such a complaint was in the last period for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: The Information Commissioner's Office is an independent body created by statute with responsibility for handling complaints made to him under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The total number of Freedom of Information complaints outstanding on 31 December 2005 was 1,325, with 1,060 cases closed. The number of Data Protection Act complaints outstanding on the same date was 2,477.
	The average time taken from receipt to closure for all cases closed during 2005 was 95 days. 48.1 per cent. of cases were closed within 60 working days of receipt. The ICO target is to close 50 per cent. of cases within 60 working days.

Inquests

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce delays in holding inquests; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I am committed to reducing delays in holding inquests. On 6 February, I announced our plans for reform of the coroner system—and I also placed further details in the House Library. Major priorities for the reform programme will be addressing the needs and expectations of bereaved people, including those cases where inquests are required, and improving the speed and effectiveness of investigations. I will be bringing forward a draft Bill for scrutiny in the late spring.

Inquests

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many inquests in each coroner's court area have been adjourned for longer than a year; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: A list of coroner districts with the number of inquests concluded which took over 12 months to resolve in 2004, the latest year for which figures which are available has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Information about inquests which are still in progress is not collected centrally.

Judges' Conduct

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints have been made about the conduct of judges in each year since 1997; how many of those complaints have been upheld in each year; and what action was taken to redress each successful complaint.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit was set up in 1998 and records commence from 1999. The following figures show the number of complaints about judges received for each year from 1999 to 2005; the number which were investigated in that year; and the number of disciplinary actions taken by the Lord Chancellor in that year. (It should be noted that there will have been a number of active cases carried over from year to year and so the second two columns do not simply represent a percentage of the first.)
	The Lord Chancellor has a range of disciplinary actions open to him, from issuing guidance, a warning as to future conduct or a reprimand, to, in the most serious cases, removal from office for judges below the level of the High Court. (Judges at the level of the High Court and above may only be removed by the Queen following an Address in both Houses.) The following figures do not show cases where the complaint was upheld but no formal disciplinary action was deemed necessary as the JCU does not hold this information.
	In all years, a large number of complaints received would have been rejected without further investigation because they related to a judicial decision and not to an issue of personal conduct.
	The figures provided do not cover tribunal members or lay magistrates.
	
		
			  Complaints received Complaints investigated Disciplinary action taken 
		
		
			 1998–99(23) 1,965 367 8 
			 2000 1,491 402 8 
			 2001 1,285 352 3 
			 2002 1,191 260 3 
			 2003 1,122 263 1 
			 2004 1,004 253 2 
			 2005 1,600 298 3 
		
	
	(23) These figures run from when the JCU opened: August 1998 to December 1999

Judges' Conduct

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints have been made about judges sitting at Chelmsford Crown court in each year since 1997; how many of those complaints have been upheld; and what action was taken to redress each successful complaint.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit does not collate information on complaints by reference to the court at which the judge was sitting.

Judicial Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) judicial members, (b) tribunal members, (c) lay justice members, (d) professional members and (e) lay members applied for the new Judicial Appointments Commission.

Harriet Harman: The number of (a) judicial members, (b) tribunal members, (c) lay justice members, (d) professional members and (e) lay members who applied for positions as Commissioners of the new Judicial Appointments Commission (as specified in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Category Number of applicants 
		
		
			 Judicial 41 
			 Tribunal 29 
			 Lay Justice 64 
			 Professional 53 
			 Lay 237 
			 Total 424

Judicial Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many occasions since his appointment, the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has overruled a recommendation for judicial appointment.

Harriet Harman: Officials present a report on a competition for judicial office to my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor. He then selects for appointment the candidate or candidates most fitted for appointment, taking account of all the information contained in that report.

Judicial Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff from her Department will be transferred to the new Judicial Appointments Commission.

Harriet Harman: No Departmental staff will transfer to the Judicial Appointments Commission at its launch on 3 April 2006. Some Departmental staff will go into the Commission on secondment agreements.

Judicial Complaints Protocol

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the working of the Judicial Complaints Protocol.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Complaints Protocol was launched by Lord Irvine of Lairg in April 2003 when he was Lord Chancellor. It explains the handling process that is followed by officials in the Judicial Correspondence Unit in considering complaints against members of the judiciary. Its contents were adopted by Lord Falconer of Thoroton when he became Lord Chancellor.
	Most complaints relate to decisions taken by judges in the course of proceedings and those decisions (including those relating to case management) are not and should not be subject to ministerial review because that would be inconsistent with the principle of judicial independence.
	In a minority of complaints, issues are raised about the personal misconduct of judicial office holders and the Judicial Complaints Protocol sets out what officials will do to assist the Lord Chancellor in resolving such complaints. The protocol also sets out the Lord Chancellor's powers to discipline judicial office holders in the event that a complaint is upheld.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many letters were received by the Judicial Correspondence Unit in each week in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit receives letters both directly from members of the public and Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents. They are recorded on a monthly basis. The following table therefore shows the numbers received each month in 2004 and 2005.
	
		
			  2004 2005 
		
		
			 January 77 134 
			 February 59 131 
			 March 102 145 
			 April 65 171 
			 May 63 110 
			 June 83 122 
			 July 108 138 
			 August 72 162 
			 September 81 134 
			 October 82 133 
			 November 120 129 
			 December 89 91 
			 Total 1,001 1,600

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many officials are employed by the Judicial Correspondence Unit; at what (a) grade and (b) salary they are employed; and what the equivalent figures were in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The following information shows how many officials have been employed by the Judicial Correspondence Unit, their grade and average salary since 2001, from which point this information is available.
	2001
	13 officials (one Grade 7, two SEOs, four HEOs, five EOs, one AO)
	Average salaries: G7: £40,372; SEO: £31,584; HEO: £25,625; EO: £19,682; AO: £15,676
	2002
	14 officials (one Grade 6, two SEOs, six HEOs, four EOs, one AO)
	Average salaries: G6: £50,265, SEO: £31,839, HEO: £25,812, EO: £20,031, AO: £16,029
	2003
	15 officials (one Grade 6, one Grade 7, two SEOs, six HEOs, three EOs, two AOs)
	Average salaries: G6: £52,177, G7: £42,974, SEO: £31,844, HEO: £25,912, EO: £20,172, AO:16,390
	2004
	13 officials (one Grade 6, one Grade 7, one SEO, five HEOs, four EOs, one AO)
	Average salaries: G6: £51,840, G7: £42,602, SEO: £31,541, HEO: £25,674, EO: £19,584, AO: £16,297
	2005
	13 officials (one Grade 6, two Grade 7s, one SEO, five HEOs, three EOs, one AO)
	Average salaries: G6: £52,507, G7: £44,019, SEO: £32,055, HEO: £26,320, EO: £20,567, AO: £16,725

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints were received by the Judicial Correspondence Unit about the work of that unit in each month since 2000.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit records all correspondence received from members of the public and Members of Parliament. It does not, however, distinguish letters about the work of the unit from those letters that are making complaints against judicial office holders.
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs has had a centralised system for handling departmental complaints since 2005 and records show that six complaints have been received since that time, which have specifically focused on the way in which officials in the Judicial Correspondence Unit have responded to letters, complaining about judicial office holders.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what advice is produced by the Judicial Correspondence Unit for members of the public wishing to make a complaint about a member of the judiciary.

Harriet Harman: Leaflets are available in courts for users who wish to complain and information is also provided by way of frequently asked questions on the Department for Constitutional Affairs' website at www.dca.gov.uk/legalsys/complain.htm. More detailed guidance is provided in the Lord Chancellor's Judicial Complaints Protocol which is available to members of the public on request.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received about the Judicial Complaints Protocol in each of the last two years.

Harriet Harman: Lord Irvine of Lairg launched the Judicial Complaints Protocol in April 2003 in his capacity as Lord Chancellor. It sets out the Lord Chancellor's arrangements through the Judicial Correspondence Unit for the handling of complaints against members of the judiciary, together with his powers to discipline judicial office holders. Lord Falconer of Thoroton adopted the contents of that protocol on taking up appointment as Lord Chancellor.
	Since its publication I am not aware of any representations that have been received about the protocol.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the (a) publications, (b) periodicals and (c) newspapers purchased by the Judicial Correspondence Unit in each month since 2002.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit has not purchased any of these items. It holds no budget for such items.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent by the Judicial Correspondence Unit on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit is part of the Judicial Policy and Correspondence Division and its budget is managed as part of the resources allocated to that division. It would therefore be disproportionately costly to retrieve information about the cost of refreshments specifically for the Judicial Correspondence Unit from the wider budget. I understand, in any event, that the unit only very rarely requires refreshments, if for example it was holding a team event in a building away from its base in Selborne House.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many parliamentary questions were answered by the Judicial Correspondence Unit in each Session of Parliament since 1997–98.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit has answered the following numbers of parliamentary questions:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 0 
			 1998 1 
			 1999 3 
			 2000 7 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 3 
			 2005 3 
			 To date 3

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many letters sent by (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of the House of Lords were received by the Judicial Correspondence Unit in each month since 1997; and how many and what percentage were replied to within the target time set by her Department.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit (JCU) was created in 1998, and the relevant records start with effect from January 1999. The information requested for each year, 1999 to 2005 is as follows.
	
		Ministers' cases
		
			 From MPs Lords Number in time Percentage 
		
		
			 2001 
			 January 3 4 7 100 
			 February 9 2 11 100 
			 March 6 0 6 100 
			 April 7 0 7 100 
			 May 6 0 6 100 
			 June 6 3 9 100 
			 July 5 0 5 100 
			 August 9 0 9 100 
			 September 11 0 11 100 
			 October 10 0 10 100 
			 November 2 0 2 100 
			 December 10 0 10 100 
			 Total 84 9 93 100 
			  
			 2002 
			 January 10 0 10 100 
			 February 6 0 6 100 
			 March 8 0 8 100 
			 April 4 1 5 100 
			 May 8 0 6 75 
			 June 9 1 9 90 
			 July 8 0 5 62.5 
			 August 9 0 9 100 
			 September 6 1 7 100 
			 October 5 0 5 100 
			 November 5 0 5 100 
			 December 6 0 6 100 
			 Total 84 3 81 93 
			  
			 2003 
			 January 9 0 9 100 
			 February 4 0 4 100 
			 March 8 0 8 100 
			 April 6 0 6 100 
			 May 6 0 6 100 
			 June 8 0 6 75 
			 July 6 0 6 100 
			 August 14 0 14 100 
			 September 6 0 6 100 
			 October 9 0 9 100 
			 November 5 0 5 100 
			 December 6 0 6 100 
			 Total 87 0 85 97.7 
			  
			 2004 
			 January 6 0 6 100 
			 February 6 0 6 100 
			 March 8 0 8 100 
			 April 8 1 9 100 
			 May 4 0 4 100 
			 June 9 1 10 100 
			 July 3 1 4 100 
			 August 4 0 4 100 
			 September 5 0 5 100 
			 October 3 0 3 100 
			 November 2 0 2 100 
			 December 2 0 2 100 
			 Total 60 3 60 100 
			  
			 2005 
			 January 6 0 6 100 
			 February 13 0 13 100 
			 March 4 0 4 100 
			 April 8 0 7 87.5 
			 May 2 0 2 100 
			 June 5 1 5 83.3 
			 July 5 0 5 100 
			 August 7 1 7 87.5 
			 September 4 0 3 75 
			 October 9 0 7 77.7 
			 November 2 0 2 100 
			 December 5 0 5 80 
			 Total 70 2 66 91.6 
			  
			 1999 
			 January 12 0 12 100 
			 February 7 0 6 85.7 
			 March 9 0 8 88.8 
			 April 15 0 13 86.6 
			 May 10 0 9 90 
			 June 6 0 5 83.3 
			 July 8 0 7 87.5 
			 August 7 0 6 85.7 
			 September 7 0 6 85.7 
			 October 8 0 6 75 
			 November 5 0 4 80 
			 December 2 0 1 50 
			 Total 96 0 83 86.4 
			  
			 2000 
			 January 10 0 10 100 
			 February 5 0 5 100 
			 March 8 1 9 100 
			 April 7 1 8 100 
			 May 10 1 11 100 
			 June 13 0 13 100 
			 July 10 0 10 100 
			 August 11 0 11 100 
			 September 6 0 6 100 
			 October 6 1 7 100 
			 November 5 0 5 100 
			 December 9 2 11 100 
			 Total 100 6 106 100

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions she has had with stakeholders about the work of the Judicial Correspondence Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: As part of the Lord Chancellor's constitutional reforms and based on the agreement made with the Lord Chief Justice in the Concordat in January 2004, the handling of judicial complaints will be undertaken by the Office for Judicial Complaints from April 2006. That office will take over the responsibilities of the Judicial Correspondence Unit but will work jointly to the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice in doing so, reflecting their joint responsibility for judicial discipline matters after April this year. Discussions have been taking place over the past year with the senior judiciary to work up proposals for the handling of judicial discipline matters in the future.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the occasions when members of the Judicial Correspondence Unit have been required (a) to appear before and (b) to give advice to officials in her Department giving evidence to (i) the Scottish Parliament, (ii) the National Assembly for Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees, (iv) House of Commons select committees and (v) House of Lords select committees in each session since 2001–02.

Harriet Harman: I am not aware that there have been any such occasions.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the publications produced by the Judicial Correspondence Unit in each month since 2002.

Harriet Harman: The only publication produced in this time is the Judicial Complaints Protocol which was published in April 2003.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of complaints dismissed by the Judicial Correspondence Unit on the grounds that they were (a) scandalous, (b) frivolous and (c) vexatious in each of the past 10 years.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit records all complaints received from members of the public and Members of Parliament but they are not differentiated into the categories listed in this question.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by the Judicial Correspondence Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit has not commissioned any such research.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will place in the Library copies of research that has been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated by the Judicial Correspondence Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Correspondence Unit has not commissioned any such research.

Legal Services Commission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received regarding the decision of the Legal Services Commission to withdraw its funding from specialist legal support services; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: In addition to the issues raised by hon. Members on 2 February 2006, Official Report, column 570W, we have received representations made by both Solicitors and not for Profit organisations expressing their concern at the decision to withdraw funding for specialist support services.
	This decision will mean that £2.3 million will be redirected to fund about 9,000 opportunities for people to get direct legal advice in the next financial year. This will increase access to legal aid services for vulnerable people.

Legal Services Commission

Charles Walker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will reverse the decision taken by the Legal Services Commission to withdraw funding in July from specialist providers of support and advice on cases relating to housing, debt, welfare benefits, immigration, employment and money; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will ask the Legal Services Commission to review its decision to withdraw funding from specialist support services; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: This is a matter for the Legal Services Commission (LSC), acting under the powers contained in the Access to Justice Act 1999. I am satisfied that the LSC has acted properly in reaching this decision, which will result in more acts of direct assistance being made available to vulnerable clients.

Media Monitoring

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much her Department and its predecessors has spent on media monitoring activities in each of the last eight financial years.

Bridget Prentice: The department spent £106,293 in 2000–01, £66,580 in 2001–02, £81,389 in 2002–03, £112,632 in 2003–04, £173,248 in 2004–05 and £100,609 in 2005–06.
	Figures prior to 2000–01 are not available because of a change in departmental accounting systems. All figures include VAT. The figures for 2005–06 are for the period up to 24 January 2006.

Pension Contributions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Bridget Prentice: For 2005–06 employers' contributions for civil servants are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme. Staff at the Legal Services Commission are not civil servants, and are not members of the Principal Civil Service Scheme, but the Department does contribute to a funded pension scheme.
	The following table shows the employer's contributions paid for the last three years broken down into the core department, agency (where this can be separately identified) and non-departmental public bodies for which the Secretary of State is responsible. The contributions are not recorded by country or region and these costs could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	The forecast for 2005–06 includes the costs incurred for approximately 12,000 former Magistrates Courts Service staff who became civil servants on 1 April 2005 on the creation of Her Majesty's Courts Service.
	
		Employer's pension contributions for the Department for Constitutional Affairs
		
			  Actual costs (£) 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs (including Court Service) 29,230,000 32,478,000 33,234.000 
			 Public Guardianship Office (Agency) 955,000 902,000 956,000 
			 Information Commissioner's Office (NDPB) 403,000 481,000 556,000 
			 Legal Services Commission (NDPB) 5,939,193 10,739,087 11,676,207 
		
	
	
		Estimate for employer contributions for 2005–06
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs 13,851,920 
			 Her Majesty's Courts Service (Agency) 53,742,673 
			 Public Guardianship Office (Agency) 1,338,692 
			 Information Commissioner's Office (NDPB) 1,027,000 
			 Legal Service Commission (NDPB) 8,811,587 
			 Total estimated cost to Department 78,771,872

Personal Injury Litigation

Nick Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what information her Department collects on the costs of personal injury litigation in other developed countries.

Bridget Prentice: The Department does not routinely collect information on personal injury litigation in other countries. However, information is sought as appropriate to assist in policy development.
	For example, information was sought from other European countries prior to consultation in 2002 on proposals to allow the courts to order that personal injury damages be paid in the form of periodical payments (which subsequently formed part of the Courts Act 2003). In addition, research has recently been commissioned on the funding of personal injury litigation which includes a survey of approaches in several European jurisdictions. This will be published later this month.

Southend County Court

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average waiting time was from allocation to hearing for small claims at Southend county court in the last period for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: The figures for the Southend county court show that between April 2003 to March 2004 there were 270 case dealt with, with an average waiting time of 15.2 weeks. Between April 2004 and March 2005 the average waiting time was 12.0 weeks (217 cases), and between April and December 2005 the average waiting time was 10.5 weeks (165 cases).

Specialist Support Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs for what reasons the Legal Services Commission has decided to withdraw funding from specialist support services; and what assessment has been made of the likely impact of this decision.

Bridget Prentice: Specialist support services form part of the Legal Services Commission's (LSC) special projects budget. Given the pressure on the limited legal aid budget and the number of clients needing legal advice, the LSC has concluded that the money would now be better spent on direct, frontline advice to vulnerable legal aid clients.
	The decision will mean that £2.3 million will be redirected to fund about 9,000 opportunities for people to get direct legal advice in the next financial year. This will increase access to legal aid services for vulnerable people.

Specialist Support Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent research on the effectiveness of specialist support services she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated.

Bridget Prentice: Research undertaken by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) which underpins their consultation paper Making legal rights a reality" points to an increasing demand for front line advice for the most needy. The LSC has concluded that specialist support services do not represent the most cost-effective approach to delivering this need for more and better services for clients.

Squatting

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what changes to legislation relating to squatters there have been since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The following changes have been made:
	The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 were amended to permit Interim Possession Orders to be made against trespassers. The amendments came into force in December 2002.
	The Land Registration Act 2002 reformed the law and procedures relating to acquisition of title to registered land by squatters. The reforms came into force in October 2003.
	The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced a new police power to remove trespassers from unauthorised encampments where an alternative site is available. The provisions came into force in February 2004.

War Memorials

John Grogan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will introduce proposals to amend the provisions of the War Memorials (Local Authorities Powers) Act 1923 to introduce an obligation upon local authorities to maintain war memorials situated within their boundaries.

Harriet Harman: Local authorities are already able to maintain, protect and restore local war memorials where they believe this to be an appropriate use of local funds. We have no plans to impose any new duties in relation to these functions.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Arson (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding assistance he plans to offer to the Arson Task Force in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to reduce the incidence of arson in the Greater Peterborough area.

Jim Fitzpatrick: On 23 January 2006, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced £11.4 million grant funding for fire and rescue authorities in England for 2006–08 to support fire prevention work including community fire safety, arson reduction and work with children and young people. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough fire authority were awarded a total of £89,043 for this two-year period.

Commonhold Tenure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether shared ownership leases can participate in a commonhold tenure development; and if he will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no express prohibition in the commonhold legislation against shared ownership leases. However, to ensure that the problems of long leasehold ownership are not recreated in commonhold, the Commonhold Regulations 2004 prohibit the grant of a lease for longer than seven years in residential commonhold units. As a result of this restriction shared ownership lease arrangements, which typically require the grant of a 99 or 125-year lease, cannot be used in these units.
	Other forms of shared ownership, such as trust and mortgage based arrangements, are permitted and are being developed by the property industry and the social housing sector. In the light of this work we are considering whether an exception to the prohibition on long leases is necessary for shared ownership leases of residential commonhold units.

Condover Parish Council

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from Condover parish council; and what response he plans to make.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received correspondence from Condover parish council on 17 January. This was acknowledged but, as it concerned a highways matter, it was transferred to the Department for Transport on the same day.

Council House Exchanges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on council housing exchanges between tenants.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not provide any guidance to local authorities on council housing exchanges between tenants.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by his Department in the past 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There were 12 items individually valued at £100 or over reported as stolen from the buildings occupied by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies in the last 12 months.
	Items reported stolen from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's headquarters were:
	One white Peugeot racing bicycle valued at approximately £120
	One official black leather briefcase valued at approximately £100
	Five official laptops valued at approximately £3,000
	Items reported stolen from ODPM agencies were:
	Two mac250+ mobile lights valued at approximately £491 each
	One mac600 mobile light valued at approximately £805
	One Mountain bike valued at approximately £300
	One official desktop PC and monitor valued at approximately £350
	None of the laptops or the PC mentioned above contained any sensitive material.
	This answer does not include buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much and what proportion of his Department's catering budget was spent on Fair Trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect this data and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The catering services provided in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's properties are mostly outsourced at nil subsidy. The restaurants sell Fair Trade products including coffee, tea and items including fruit, chocolate and health bars directly to staff. The hospitality menus offer Fair Trade tea and coffee for official meetings and conferences.
	This answer does not include catering in the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Entertainment

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on entertainment by his Office in 2004–05; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (excluding the Government Offices) spent £213,438 on official entertainment, catering and hospitality in 2004–05. The breakdown of this expenditure in the form requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in 'Government Accounting'.

Directly-elected Mayors

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many councils have indicated to his Department that they want to introduce directly elected mayors; and what the (a) estimated cost is and (b) average cost has been of transferring from a traditional local authority system to a directly elected mayor.

Phil Woolas: Local authorities which are to hold a referendum on whether to have a directly elected mayor are required to send proposals for this to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. To date 33 local authorities have done so. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information about the cost of transferring from a traditional local authority system to a directly elected mayor.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many accidents resulting in hospitalisation have been reported in relation to applicants for disabled facilities grants while waiting for their grant to be approved in each of the last three years.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of people accessing a service through Supporting People were at risk of domestic violence on the latest date for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Information is collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from service providers on the number of new clients accessing services through the Supporting People programme.
	Of the 82,000 clients that took up services through the programme during April-September 2005, 11 per cent. were defined primarily as women at risk of domestic violence, while a further 2 per cent. of clients were defined secondarily as women at risk of domestic violence.

Empty Homes

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the trend in the number of empty homes since 2001.

Yvette Cooper: The number of vacant dwellings in England, from 2001 to 2004, is tabled as follows. These figures are the latest available data:
	
		
			  Snapshot date Number of vacant dwellings 
		
		
			 2001 1 April 753,100 
			 2002 1 November 758,100 
			 2003 3 November 745,000 
			 2004 1 November 716,800 
		
	
	Source:
	The 2001 figure is based on a combination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) return, and the Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR). For the years 2002 to 2004 the figures are based on ODPM's Council Tax Base 1 (CTB1) return.
	These figures are for all vacant dwellings, including dwellings that have been empty for fewer than six months, some for less than one month.
	The number of vacant dwellings in England has fallen from 2001 to 2004, by approximately 36,000. There is not sufficient data to establish a firm trend. As indicated in its response to Kate Barker's Review of Housing Supply, the Government are exploring ways to make significant reductions in the number of empty homes, particularly those that remain empty for long periods. The Government are introducing new powers from April 2006 for local authorities to reduce the number of long-term empty homes in their area.

Euro

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Tribunal Service's plan approved by his Department on preparing for the introduction of the Euro.

Phil Woolas: All Central Government Departments and their sponsored bodies have been asked by HM Treasury to prepare high level plans for introducing the Euro. A copy of the Euro Conversion (High Level Plan) produced by the Valuation Tribunal Service has been made available in the Library of the House.

Falmer Stadium Application

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he received from officials in respect of the four planning applications for a stadium at Falmer, near Lewes, between the receipt of the report from Mr. John Collyer in December 2003 and the issuing of the decision letter on 27 October 2005.

Yvette Cooper: Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Fire Services

Peter Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the fire service regarding the provision of equipment.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Fire and rescue authorities are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an integrated risk management plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. It is, therefore, for each fire and rescue authority to determine appropriate fire cover in its area including the provision of equipment.
	It is also not the role of Ministers to agree the operational proposals in an authority's plan; that is for elected members of the authority concerned. They are best placed to act on the professional advice of principal officers and to balance the competing local demands on available resources for the benefits of the communities they serve.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighter vacancies there are in each fire authority area.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many retained duty system firefighter vacancies there are in each fire authority area.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters have been retired due to ill-health and injury before retirement age in each of the last five financial years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of firefighters in England that have been retired due to ill-health and injury in each year is presented as follows:
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01(24) 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Total number of ill-health and injury retirements 625 647 630 587 531 
			 Whole-time firelighter ill health retirements 557 578 570 545 485 
			 Retained duty system firefighter ill-health retirements 68 69 60 42 46 
			   
			 Percentage of total whole-time firefighter retirements 52.0 50.9 50.7 42.1 46.5 
			 Percentage of total retained duty system firefighter retirements 30.5 28.9 20.5 17.1 21.3 
		
	
	(24) Figures for West Sussex are not available
	Source:
	ODPM annual returns

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contribution employers have made to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme in each of the last five financial years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Firefighters' Pension Scheme is an unfunded scheme and pensions are paid by fire and rescue authorities from revenue. There is therefore no employer contribution. The cost of the scheme is currently estimated to be 37.5 per cent. of pensionable pay and has increased from 34.75 per cent. since 1998. Members pay a contribution of 11 per cent. of pensionable pay which has remained unaltered since 1991.

Galileo European Satellite

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Ordnance Survey has to use the Galileo European satellite.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Ordnance Survey makes significant use today of global positioning system (GPS) technology to maintain the national geospatial database in Great Britain and plans to replace its existing national GPS infrastructure with GPS+Galileo enabled receivers over the next two years as part of its routine asset replacement programme. It is expected that Galileo will give Ordnance Survey, and all professional users of satellite navigation, greater signal availability, acquisition speed and accuracy.

Gaming International Ltd

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the contracts which have been awarded to Gaming International Ltd. by English Partnerships; and for what project each contract was awarded.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships has contracts with Gaming International Ltd. relating to the development agreement for land in the Ashland area and Elfield Park in Milton Keynes:
	(i) a deed of variation and agreement for health care provision relating to the Ashland area;
	(ii) a lease relating to the use of Milton Keynes Bowl for public events;
	(iii) an agreement for the construction of a stadium facility at Elfield Park in Milton Keynes.
	In addition English Partnerships has granted Gaming International a licence to charge which allows it to make charges relating to land at the East Ashland Greyhound Stadium and the operating of the National Bowl.
	The development agreement releases brownfield land for the housing development of 380 new homes.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 203W, on home information packs, which elements of the pack are liable to VAT.

Yvette Cooper: The contents of the pack will be specified in Regulations to be made later this year. The answer given to the hon. Member on 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 203W, reflected our intention to include a home condition report and drainage and water search in the pack. Both of these elements are liable to VAT. Local searches provided by a local authority are not liable to VAT.

Homelessness

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding the Government has given to faith groups to address homelessness since May 1997.

Yvette Cooper: This information requested is not collected centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister allocates homelessness grants to local authorities and voluntary sector agencies. A significant proportion of homelessness grants to local authorities is in turn used by those authorities to fund voluntary sector homelessness services that contribute to local strategies to tackle homelessness. A number of voluntary sector agencies allocated homelessness grants since 1997 are likely to have been faith-based but ODPM's records do not categorise them in this way.

Homelessness

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what (a) revenue grant and (b) capital grant payments were made by the Homelessness Directorate in support of local homelessness strategies in each local authority in London in 2004–05;
	(2)  how much was paid in (a) revenue grant and (b) capital grant payments to the voluntary sector in London by the Homelessness Directorate in 2004–05.

Yvette Cooper: Homelessness grants from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supplement other sources of Government funding that help to tackle homelessness, including housing capital investment, supporting people and revenue support grant.
	In 2004–05 a total of just over £44 million in homelessness grants was allocated to organisations in London by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The following table provides details of homelessness revenue and capital grant payments made by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2004–05 to each local authority in London. Some of this funding may have been passed on by these authorities to voluntary sector agencies to pay for homelessness services.
	Some funding was provided direct to voluntary sector agencies from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The following table also shows the total value of these grants in London. Most of the voluntary sector homelessness services funded direct by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister operate across more than one local authority area.
	
		ODPM homelessness grants in London, 2004–05
		
			  Revenue Capital 
		
		
			 Authority   
			 Barking and Dagenham 28,000.00 — 
			 Barnet 165,000.00 — 
			 Bexley 58,000.00 — 
			 Brent 783,000.00 — 
			 Bromley 100,000.00 — 
			 Camden 1,800,000.00 — 
			 City of London 515,000.00 — 
			 Croydon 600,000.00 — 
			 Ealing 600,000.00 — 
			 Enfield 250,000.00 — 
			 Greater London Authority 40,000.00 — 
			 Greenwich 100,000.00 — 
			 Hackney 640,000.00 — 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,500,000.00 470,000.00 
			 Haringey 200,000.00 — 
			 Harrow 183,000.00 — 
			 Havering 27,000.00 — 
			 Hillingdon 80,000.00 — 
			 Hounslow 180,000.00 — 
			 Islington 357,000.00 — 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 943,000.00 — 
			 Kingston upon Thames 90,000.00 — 
			 Lambeth 2,100,000.00 — 
			 Lewisham 100,000.00 474,000.00 
			 Merton 80,000.00 — 
			 Newham 250,000.00 — 
			 Redbridge 105,000.00 — 
			 Richmond 295,000.00 — 
			 Southwark 1,100,000.00 353,000.00 
			 Sutton 150,000.00 — 
			 Tower Hamlets 800,000.00 — 
			 Waltham Forest 200,000.00 — 
			 Wandsworth 300,000.00 — 
			 Westminster 7,366,000.00 9,480,000.00 
			 Total grants to authorities 22,085,000.00 10,777,000.00 
			
			 Voluntary sector organisations   
			 Not split by authority 9,658,188.00 1,493,550.00 
			 Total grants to voluntary sector  organisations 9,658,188.00 1,493,550.00

Housing Corporation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) total and (b) administration expenditure of the Housing Corporation was in each year since 1996–97; and what the estimates are for (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07.

Yvette Cooper: The total expenditure and administration expenditure by the Housing Corporation for each year since 1996–97 is shown as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Admin spend Total spend 
		
		
			 1996–97 29.90 1,638.10 
			 1997–98 29.00 1,327.80 
			 1998–99 28.80 1,245.80 
			 1999–2000 29.90 1,329.90 
			 2000–01 30.60 1,404.90 
			 2001–02 34.10 1,421.50 
			 2002–03 36.39 1,749.29 
			 2003–04 39.35 2,111.58 
			 2004–05 41.90 1,746.89 
			 2005–06 44.13 1,706.74 
			 2006–07 41.80 1,891.74 
		
	
	Figures for 1996–97 to 2004–05 are based on information from the Housing Corporation's annual accounts.
	The figures for 2005–06 and 2006–07 are based on proposed budgets as at 30 January 2006.
	The administration figures include expenditure on staff costs and capital. The total includes all administration costs along with all programmes, both capital and revenue operated by the Housing Corporation for each year provided.

Leisure Centres

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the transfer of leisure facilities from local authorities to newly-formed charitable trusts on their access to capital for refurbishment;
	(2)  if he will list the local authorities that have transferred the ownership of leisure centres and swimming pools to newly-formed charitable trusts; and which facilities were transferred.

Richard Caborn: I have been asked to reply.
	Specific information on the transfer of ownership of leisure centres from local authorities to newly-formed charitable trusts is not centrally collated. However, information from the Leisure Data Base Company suggests that approximately one-fifth of public leisure facilities in England are provided through trusts.
	My Department recognises the importance of this issue in ensuring the continued sustainability of publicly provided sports facilities. The Audit Commission is currently undertaking a study into the different types of management arrangements available to local authorities for running these services and how they approach the task of choosing the option best suited to local needs. This is expected to include a consideration of the potential implications of each of these options, including for charitable trusts.
	I will ensure a copy of the study is placed in the House Libraries once it is published.

Local Authority Housing

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses in (a) England and (b) Tamworth constituency (i) have been brought up to the decent homes standard and (ii) remain to be brought up to that standard.

Yvette Cooper: The information is as follows.
	(a) The number of local authority owned non-decent homes in England has decreased from £1,869,000 in 1996 to 972,000 in 2003 1 .
	(b) Tamworth has reported that their number of local authority non-decent homes has decreased from 2,664 in 2001 to 1,371 in 2005 2 .
	Sources:
	1 English House Condition Survey 2 Business Plan Annual Monitoring returns

Local Authority Housing

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of local authority housing stock in (a) England, (b) London and (c) each London borough has been sold under the right to buy scheme in each year since 1980.

Yvette Cooper: The number of right to buy (RTB) sales in England, London and each London borough are shown on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/373/Table4StatisticsonRighttoBuyandothercouncilhouse sales Excel242Kb_id1156373.xls. http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/371/SalesoflocalauthoritystockinEnglandregional grossedtotalsExcel43Kb_id1156371.xls.
	Information on local authority housing stock is available in Table 116 at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/22/Tablel16Excel127Kb_id1156022.xls.
	The proportion of local authority stock that has been sold through the right to buy scheme is the number of RTB sales in each financial year divided by the local authority stock at the beginning of that same period. Information is only available for years shown. Regional and national figures have been grossed to compensate for missing data.
	
		Right to buy sales as a proportion of local authority stock: London authorities and England -- Percentage
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 England 1.22 1.71 1.74 1.85 2.34 2.83 2.14 
			 London 1.36 1.98 2.08 1.85 2.25 2.56 2.21 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1.54 3.08 (25)— (25)— 2.60 3.01 2.05 
			 Barnet 1.96 2.24 2.01 1.37 (25)— 2.16 0.00 
			 Bexley 0.00 0.00 0.00 (25)— (25)— (25)— (26)— 
			 Brent 1.52 2.27 (25)— 1.47 1.51 1.82 0.00 
			 Bromley 0.00 0.00 0.00 (25)— (25)— (25)— (26)— 
			 Camden 1.79 2.02 2.81 2.50 1.83 2.02 1.70 
			 City of London 10.74 15.73 10.25 8.21 8.42 13.07 9.52 
			 Croydon 0.99 1.16 1.60 1.70 1.64 2.22 1.14 
			 Ealing 1.41 2.33 2.23 2.11 (25)— 2.33 1.27 
			 Enfield 1.10 2.41 1.63 1.57 2.18 3.06 1.76 
			 Greenwich 1.21 1.77 1.82 1.70 2.06 2.65 1.58 
			 Hackney 0.93 1.52 2.61 (25)— 2.61 2.51 2.83 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1.18 1.59 2.49 1.52 (25)— 1.73 1.56 
			 Haringey 1.44 2.27 (25)— (25)— 2.01 2.76 2.77 
			 Harrow 1.50 2.10 1.41 (25)— 1.18 1.53 1.94 
			 Havering 1.61 2.41 2.20 1.81 1.82 2.21 1.10 
			 Hillingdon 2.32 2.19 1.95 1.38 1.40 1.53 0.93 
			 Hounslow 1.79 2.08 1.78 (25)— (25)— 2.61 1.20 
			 Islington 1 .07 (25)— (25)— 2.65 2.19 2.44 0.00 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1.26 1.98 1.47 0.59 0.60 1.08 0.68 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1.03 1.86 0.98 0.62 1.37 1.37 0.72 
			 Lambeth 1.08 1.58 (25)— (25)— (25)— (25)— 3.00 
			 Lewisham 1.56 1.92 (25)— (25)— 3.34 (25)— 0.00 
			 Merton 2.23 2.33 (25)— 2.34 2.71 2.82 1.84 
			 Newham 1.25 1.83 (25)— (25)— 3.39 4.21 3.26 
			 Redbridge 1.27 1.66 2.03 1.79 2.19 2.37 2.17 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1.35 3.34 (25)— (26)— (25)— (25)— (26)— 
			 Southwark 0.80 1.24 1.59 1.86 2.03 3.05 3.84 
			 Sutton 1.29 2.25 1.57 1.40 1.75 1.81 0.74 
			 Tower Hamlets 1.85 2.61 3.72 3.72 4.69 3.32 3.68 
			 Waltham Forest 1.28 1.99 1.77 1.40 (25)— 2.64 1.93 
			 Wandsworth 1.33 2.63 1.70 (25)— 0.29 1.39 1.68 
			 Westminster 1.61 2.66 3.11 1.52 1.64 2.33 1.15 
		
	
	(25) Not applicable due to large scale voluntary transfer of local authority stock to a registered social landlord.
	(26) Information not available due to missing return from local authority.
	Source:
	Returns (P1A/B & HSSA) from local authorities to ODPM

Local Elections

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities (a) are in the process of changing and (b) have formally requested a change to a whole council election cycle.

Phil Woolas: The changes since the information given in answers of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 581W, and 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 681W, are that Hart district council are now considering whether to move to whole council elections and Broadland's request has been agreed. The local authorities listed have either expressed an interest or made inquiries regarding the process of change. Whether that means a formal request will be made in the future is a matter for the local authority concerned.

Local Elections

Charles Walker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to postpone the 2007 local elections; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: We expect and intend the 2007 elections to go ahead.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what access private sector firms have to the council tax banding list for individual domestic properties; and what the costs are for such access.

Phil Woolas: The council tax valuation list is compiled and maintained by listing officers and can be accessed free of charge through the Valuation Office Agency website (www.voa.gov.uk) or through the relevant billing authority.

Local Government Reform

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the creation of new unitary local authorities in England would require (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: No decisions have been taken about creating new unitary local authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to finalise our position around the middle of the year at about the same time as the publication of the proposed White Paper. Intentions would be to seek new local government legislation to effect any proposed structural changes.

Local Government Reform

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the recent article by the Minister for Local Government and Communities in the Local Government Chronicle, what estimate the Government have made of the transitional costs of introducing unitary local government.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member on 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 584W.

Management Consultants

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how often his Department has used management consultants in the last year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information centrally on the number of times consultants including management consultants have been used centrally, and could provide it only at disproportionate cost. Information on the cost for consultants which includes the cost of management consultants. For 2005–06 to date the cost is £39.661 million.

Millennium Dome (Redevelopment)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made on the redevelopment of (a) the millennium dome and (b) the surrounding land, including the millennium village; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Inside the dome the construction of the arena and the first phase of the entertainment district are in progress. Outside the dome, the building of millennium square has begun, and work on the housing development is due to follow later in the year.
	On the adjoining land, the David Beckham Football Academy has been opened since October 2005, and the current phase of Greenwich millennium village comprising of 198 homes is due for completion in September 2006. Of these, 30 homes were completed in December 2005.
	Planning consent for phases 3 & 4 of Greenwich millennium village was recently granted by London borough of Greenwich.

Mobile Telephone Masts

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many refusals of planning permission for mobile telephone phone masts by local authorities have been overturned by the Planning Inspectorate in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Planning Inspectorate does not hold information about mobile phone masts specifically, and it could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Northern Way Strategy

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the implementation of the Northern Way strategy; and which bodies are responsible for the strategy.

Yvette Cooper: The Northern Way Steering Group produced and launched 'Moving Forward: The Northern Way First Growth Strategy Report' in September 2004. The Northern Way Steering Group is independently chaired and Regional Development Agency led. It contains representatives from business, the housing sector, higher education and northern cities as well as the three northern Regional Assemblies, English Partnerships and Government
	It is a long-term strategy to establish the North of England as an area of exceptional opportunity, combining a world-class economy with a high quality of life by 2025. The Northern Way published a business plan in June 2005 setting out how they would take the strategy forward until 2008. Both this and the growth strategy can be found on the Northern Way's website at: http://www.thenorthernway.co.uk/documents.html

Open Market Homebuy Option

Michael Gove: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with (a) the Council of Mortgage Lenders, (b) the Financial Services Authority and (c) the three lenders expected by the Department to be offering the Open Market Homebuy (OMH) product on progress with OMH.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister met with the Council of Mortgage Lenders and two of the Lenders expected to joint fund the expanded Open Market HomeBuy product on 26 October, 2005. Since the Chancellor's announcement of 5 December, officials have been involved in regular progress discussions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Financial Services Authority, and lenders.

Open Market Homebuy Option

Michael Gove: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Open Market Homebuy option will be available by October.

Yvette Cooper: The Open Market HomeBuy Product will be available from April. The Government are working with three lenders, Yorkshire Building Society, Nationwide and HBoS, to joint fund an expanded Open Market HomeBuy product from October.

Ordnance Survey

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) aerial and (b) satellite photography are used to help provide information for the Ordnance Survey's (i) MasterMap and (ii) Land-Line.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Ordnance Survey uses aerial photography for the revision of the National Geospatial Database. Both Land-Line and the OS MasterMap Topographic Layer are generated from the database.
	The potential for using satellite photography for a similar purpose in the future is kept under regular review. At the moment it is not considered suitable for maintaining the largest scale of data that is used in Land-Line and OS MasterMap, but there is scope for it to be used as a source of intelligence about change that will be collected by other survey techniques.

Planning

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is in respect of (a) accepting hospitality from and (b) meeting an applicant of a live planning application where the application might be referred to him for decision.

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister follows the policy on live planning cases set out in Guidance on Propriety Issues in the Handling of Planning Applications in ODPM", copies of which have been made available in the Library of the House and a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
	Once a decision has been made, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has no further role. Even if my right hon. Friend's decision is challenged, it is not live before him unless and until the decision is quashed by the court and returned to him for redetermination.

Planning Blight (Compensation)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the statutory compensation process is for (a) planning blight and (b) highway developments.

Yvette Cooper: Provisions exist in Part VI of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to assist the owner-occupiers of blighted land who cannot sell their property except at a reduced price because some formal plan or document indicates that it may be required by a body with compulsory purchase powers.
	Under these provisions the owner-occupier may require the body responsible for the blight to purchase the property in advance by serving a blight notice. The effect of this notice is to bring forward the compulsory purchase procedure to a time of the blight claimant's choosing. When a blight notice is accepted by the appropriate authority that authority must acquire the interest specified in the blight notice and the purchase is deemed to be a compulsory purchase.
	In the case of highway development, the Land Compensation Acts 1961 and 1973 establish that compensation is payable where an interest in land is acquired compulsorily. Following ministerial confirmation of the compulsory purchase order the acquiring authority will take possession of the land and negotiate the level of compensation. The principle underlying the level of compensation is that a claimant should be left no worse off and no better off in monetary terms after the acquisition than before. Compensation may also be available where a reduction in the value of land is caused by the execution or subsequent use of public works.

Population Projections

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2574W, on population projections, what consideration is being given to the inclusion in the calculations for future local government finance settlements for local authorities in Northamptonshire of housebuilding numbers and population projections in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional spatial strategy.

Phil Woolas: The population projections used by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 Local Government Finance Settlements are the 2003-based sub-national population projections for England produced by the Office for National Statistics, as these are the best data available produced on a consistent basis for all authorities.
	These projections represent how the population in an area would change given the continuation of past demographic trends.

Rates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average business rates bill levied in (a) England and (b) each local authority billing area in England was in each year since 1997–98; and what the estimated averages are for 2005–06.

Phil Woolas: The requested information has been made available in the Library of the House.

Right to Buy

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) initial applications and (b) completed sales were made under the right to buy in each local authority in London in each quarter since 2003–04.

Yvette Cooper: The number of right to buy applications and sales as reported by each local authority in London are in the following table.
	
		Right to buy sales and applications: London authorities
		
			   2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
			 Local authority Right to buy Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham Applications 357 364 244 347 307 293 243 232 210 210 201 
			  Sales 170 162 161 160 139 116 94 82 66 57 63 
			 Barnet Applications 52 46 40 53 42 (28)— (28)— (28)— 19 71 (28)— 
			  Sales 64 62 57 68 45 (28)— (28)— (28)— 22 14 (28)— 
			 Bexley Applications (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent Applications 65 57 51 67 54 53 52 — 45 43 (28)— 
			  Sales 40 52 46 47 49 58 42 — 26 19 (28)— 
			 Bromley Applications (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— 
			  Sales (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— (27)— 
			 Camden Applications 131 144 133 191 146 157 47 122 154 54 162 
			  Sales 123 131 131 133 120 132 111 70 51 26 36 
			 City of London Applications 12 8 1 10 10 14 8 7 11 3 (28)— 
			  Sales 14 17 7 21 17 13 6 6 2 1 (28)— 
			 Croydon Applications 52 53 34 70 56 49 46 54 39 43 30 
			  Sales 97 85 70 72 58 36 48 22 9 8 15 
			 Ealing Applications 119 113 95 139 99 70 97 87 85 60 52 
			  Sales 79 65 74 121 57 66 37 16 17 18 11 
			 Enfield Applications 64 57 8 73 77 64 49 59 71 71 41 
			  Sales 63 90 128 101 65 72 48 31 22 25 3 
			 Greenwich Applications 142 138 112 159 154 135 88 120 135 118 (28)— 
			  Sales 173 180 168 180 139 113 104 53 34 40 (28)— 
			 Hackney Applications 151 (28)— (28)— 187 (28)— (28)— 120 143 132 160 (28)— 
			  Sales 204 (28)— (28)— 123 (28)— (28)— 166 97 94 43 (28)— 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Applications 54 (28)— (28)— 87 62 50 47 39 53 55 (28)— 
			  Sales 56 (28)— (28)— 65 56 61 64 34 38 40 (28)— 
			 Haringey Applications 120 108 109 163 117 95 122 118 83 80 93 
			  Sales 147 121 89 143 107 149 130 87 101 54 39 
			 Harrow Applications 20 17 23 25 (28)— (28)— 13 5 13 22 15 
			  Sales 19 20 17 25 (28)— (28)— 10 11 18 7 4 
			 Havering Applications 102 128 71 114 97 101 60 67 58 54 38 
			  Sales 72 59 73 54 35 23 45 21 28 21 23 
			 Hillingdon Applications 120 125 61 141 59 43 54 17 40 23 19 
			  Sales 43 44 36 54 30 26 28 21 21 24 17 
			 Hounslow Applications 81 68 52 73 105 67 34 50 61 36 45 
			  Sales 90 112 80 90 57 46 40 23 18 16 6 
			 Islington Applications 139 172 137 139 (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			  Sales 123 228 182 210 (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 
			 Kensington and Chelsea Applications 152 34 31 32 28 20 25 28 23 35 21 
			  Sales 13 22 20 11 24 13 8 4 6 1 3 
			 Kingston upon Thames Applications (28)— (28)— 11 15 22 13 14 17 10 14 12 
			  Sales (28)— (28)— 11 15 16 11 5 4 4 5 2 
			 Lambeth Applications (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 241 173 136 106 182 155 (28)— 
			  Sales (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 355 280 216 108 128 53 (28)— 
			 Lewisham Applications 142 118 217 (28)— 156 (28)— (28)— (28)— 157 (28)— (28)— 
			  Sales 259 284 228 (28)— 355 (28)— (28)— (28)— 98 (28)— (28)— 
			 Merton Applications 32 42 25 47 51 74 0 63 31 35 36 
			  Sales 53 47 41 51 22 47 38 15 15 11 10 
			 Newham Applications 214 276 213 219 179 167 120 125 121 199 (28)— 
			  Sales 214 176 268 230 216 213 142 77 69 44 (28)— 
			 Redbridge Applications 12 19 22 33 27 46 0 0 19 26 (28)— 
			  Sales 31 34 31 29 32 29 31 21 21 23 (28)— 
			 Richmond upon Thames Applications (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  Sales (28)— (28)— (28)— (28)— 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Southwark Applications 306 315 255 309 281 273 246 228 253 253 230 
			  Sales 427 334 287 384 466 450 408 418 293 217 125 
			 Sutton Applications 18 26 28 22 57 35 13 46 21 18 (28)— 
			  Sales 29 30 58 28 29 18 6 5 4 3 (28)— 
			 Tower Hamlets Applications 145 216 163 203 184 165 121 155 169 177 153 
			  Sales 344 237 80 154 185 173 256 252 172 108 64 
			 Waltham Forest Applications 37 39 43 36 49 52 35 25 43 38 39 
			  Sales 41 59 84 104 78 70 48 15 19 12 8 
			 Wandsworth Applications 37 57 41 84 78 83 47 66 75 (28)— (28)— 
			  Sales 6 8 154 75 98 87 59 52 45 (28)— (28)— 
			 Westminster Applications 49 52 42 66 68 48 39 138 51 27 31 
			  Sales 58 54 76 79 51 42 32 20 15 11 4 
		
	
	(27) Not applicable due to large scale voluntary transfer of local authority stock to a registered social landlord.
	(28) Information not available due to missing return from local authority.
	Source:
	Quarterly returns (PI A/B) from local authorities to the ODPM

Right to Buy

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses have been sold in Merton under the right-to-buy scheme in each year since 1980.

Yvette Cooper: The number of council houses sold in Merton under the right-to-buy scheme in each year since 1998–99 as reported by Merton can be found on the office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/373/Table4StatisticsonRighttoBuy andothercouncilhousesalesExcel242Kb_idll56373.xls

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Alternative Energy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effect of the different tax rates on energy sources on incentives for companies to carry out research to identify alternative sources.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has not made a formal assessment of the effect of different tax rates on the incentives for companies to carry out research into alternative sources of energy. The Department does provide financial support for R&D in alternative energy sources.
	There is good evidence to suggest that the establishment of a price for carbon, whether by taxation or emissions trading, will impact on incentives for research and innovation and that this can contribute to differences in projected fuel mix and to reduced overall costs for meeting carbon targets.
	The Department has published a review of studies looking at the costs of long-term carbon reductions, including the role of innovation and technology change. This study is available at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/economics/6228-OccasionPaper1.pdf
	Evidence to the Stern review on the economics of climate change from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College Centre for Energy Policy and Technology illustrates the importance of technological change for the economics and policy of climate change. This study is available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./media/F72/C6/climatechange_imp_l.pdf

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will require the Financial Reporting Council to publish reports on the weaknesses of all auditing firms inspected by it.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government's Review of the Regulatory Regime of the Accountancy Profession, published in 2003, recommended enhancing the monitoring of the audits of listed and other public interest entities through a new independent inspection unit (the Audit Inspection Unit) reporting to the Professional Oversight Board for Accountancy (POBA), a Board of the Financial Reporting Council.
	In June 2005 the POBA published the Audit Inspection Unit's findings from its monitoring of the quality of the auditing function of the Big Four firms.

Autumn Performance Report

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his Department's 2005 autumn performance report, what steps he proposes to take to meet the target for business investment in research and development of 1.7 per cent. of gross domestic product by 2014.

Alun Michael: The Government's policies on business investment in research and development can be found in the 10-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004 to 2014 (July 2004), particularly Chapter 4.
	We are doing a number of things to encourage business investment in R&D:
	The technology programme is supporting collaboration, knowledge transfer and R&D into promising new technologies under the business-led Technology Strategy Board's guidance;
	We are encouraging knowledge transfer from universities through such things as the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). Taking our strengths in basic research and encouraging innovation by helping ideas move towards the applied research that is so important to business R&D;
	The Patent Office is building on its role as enforcer of intellectual property rights (DPR) by running a successful programme of activities educating people about innovation and the role IPR plays;
	Public procurement of innovative solutions through initiatives such as the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and work with the Office for Government Commerce are making Government a more intelligent customer prepared to buy the outputs of business R&D;
	R&D tax credits help reduce the financial impact of R&D costs on a business and are expected to contribute around £600 million each year to innovative businesses; and,
	Skills are a major contributor to improving levels of innovation and productivity, we are working to increase skills in science, engineering, technology and mathematics, and emphasise the importance of management and leadership skills.
	The first annual report for the 10-year science and innovation investment framework was published in July 2005.

Bank of Credit and Commerce International

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in respect of how many (a) accountants and (b) auditors prosecutions have been sought by his Department for their role in frauds at the Bank of Credit and Commerce International; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department of Trade and Industry was not the Prosecution Authority responsible for the above named matter. The Serious Fraud Office was the relevant Authority and the answer is therefore nil.

Belarus

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value of imports was from Belarus to the UK in (a) 1997, (b) 2000 and (c) 2005.

Ian Pearson: Information on the UK's imports of goods from Belarus is not yet available for the whole of 2005. The latest data available is for the period January to November 2005. This is provided in the following table:
	
		UK imports of goods from Belarus
		
			  £000 (current prices) 
		
		
			 1997 15,615 
			 2000 34,158 
			 January to November 2005 244,824 
		
	
	Source:
	H M Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics, OTS1.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation requiring companies to disclose annually the amount of their carbon dioxide emissions.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to introduce legislation that will specifically require companies to disclose information on their carbon emissions.
	However, from April 2005 quoted and large companies must produce a business review in their Directors' report, which must include information on environmental matters to the extent necessary for an understanding of the development, performance or position of the business. In addition, the Government are currently consulting on company narrative reporting requirements in the context of the Company Law Reform Bill.
	The Government recently produced 'Environmental Reporting Guidelines—Key Performance Indicators' that can assist companies to identify and report on the most significant environmental impacts to the company.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce proposals to require gas and electricity companies to publish in consumers' bills the relevant carbon dioxide emissions of their use of energy.

Malcolm Wicks: Under fuel mix disclosure provisions inserted into electricity supply licences by regulations under the European Communities Act, suppliers are required to calculate and make available to consumers information on the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced for each kWh of electricity generated.
	No equivalent provision exists for gas. However interested consumers could calculate the information themselves based on energy consumption information included in their gas bill and carbon emission factors contained in Defra environmental reporting guidelines.
	The Government have no plans to introduce further requirements in this area.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions his Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury.

Alan Johnson: DTI is committed to best practice on consultation in line with the Cabinet code of practice.
	DTI's own consultation standards exceed that code in requiring at least one additional form of consultation to ensure full participation in policy making from a diversity of individuals and organisations. Non-written approaches to consultation used routinely by DTI include national and regional focus groups, stakeholder workshops, listening events, web forums, targeted leaflet campaigns, road shows and exhibitions.
	Citizens' jury is another example of this and was used in the DTI consultation Work and Families: Flexibility and Choice in 2004. The results were considered as part of the overall consultation exercise and are discussed in the Government Response to that consultation:
	(http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/consultationchoiceflexibility 2005finall.pdf, para 4.8)

Coal Health Claims

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the firms of solicitors that have been involved in processing coal health claims; and how much has been paid to each firm in costs.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane) on 31 January 2006, Official Report, columns 329–30W.

Coal Health Claims

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Thompson's Solicitors have received in fees for coal health claim cases in (a) total and (b) North Durham.

Malcolm Wicks: In total, Thompsons solicitors have received £92.5 million for handling coal health claims as of 8 February 2006, of which £2.5 million relates to cases in North Durham.

Coal Health Claims

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been paid in coal health claim compensation to clients of Thompson's Solicitors (a) in total, (b) in County Durham and (c) in North Durham.

Malcolm Wicks: As of 8 February 2005, £518 million has been paid in compensation in coal health claims handled by Thompsons solicitors, of which £118 million was in cases in County Durham 1 and £14.5 million in North Durham.
	1 County Durham is made up of the following constituencies—North Durham, North West Durham, City of Durham, Easington, Sedgefield and Bishop Auckland.

Company Audits

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will limit each auditing firm to auditing no more than 10 per cent. of the FTSE 350 companies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government do not propose to introduce such measures.

Company Director Duties

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation to give company directors a duty of care to (a) each shareholder and (b) employers in respect of the probity and efficacy of the actions of the board.

Alun Michael: Part 10 of the Company Law Reform Bill provides a statutory statement of directors' general duties, which is in line with the current law and states the general duties that are owed by a director to the company. Clause 156 provides that a director of a company must act in the way he considers in good faith, is most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole. In fulfilling this duty, he must (so far as reasonably practicable) have regard to the factors listed in subsection 156(3), including the interests of the company's employees and the need to act fairly as between members of the company.

Company Fraud

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide a list in relation to those cases where all proceedings are complete regarding the (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions for insider trading since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following is a list of individuals against whom prosecutions have been brought by the DTI for offences contrary to s52 Criminal Justice Act 1993 or s1 Criminal Law Act 1977 (insider dealing) have been instituted since 1997. Other prosecutions may have been brought by other prosecution agencies. Prosecutions have been considered successful" where a conviction has been recorded. Those that did not result in convictions may be due to the prosecution withdrawing those offences or not guilty verdicts being entered by the jury or at the judge's direction. Since 1997 proceedings have been brought against 15 individuals of which nine were successful".
	
		
			 Name of Defendant  
		
		
			 Laurence Henry Champion Convicted 
			 John Cahill Convicted 
			 Gerald Cahill Convicted 
			 Richard Philip King Convicted 
			 Stuart Axam Not Convicted 
			 Jonathan Richard Arthur Townsend Not Convicted 
			 Wayne Daw Convicted 
			 Christopher Williams Convicted 
			 Anthony Hadnutt Not Convicted 
			 Stephen Porter Convicted 
			 Gareth Wynne Davies Not Convicted 
			 Timothy Blackstone Convicted 
			 Stephen Ziff Not Convicted 
			 Stuart Neil Ronson Not Convicted 
			 Richard Steele Not Convicted

Company Law

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to introduce legislation to require companies to publish a list in their annual accounts of the names and locations of all (a) subsidiaries, (b) affiliates, (c) shell companies and (d) trusts, together with the (i) turnover, (ii) profit and (iii) tax paid by each.

Alun Michael: The Government's intention is that Clause 382 of the Company Law Reform Bill (Information about related undertakings) will replace the provisions of section 231 of the Companies Act 1985. The Government intends to make regulations under clause 382 to replace the current Schedule 5 to the 1985 Act.
	Schedule 5 requires the disclosure of the names and locations of subsidiary undertakings. It also covers joint ventures, associated undertakings and other significant holdings. Shell companies are covered by Schedule 5 to the extent that they fall within these categories. If subsidiaries, affiliates and shell companies are Companies Act companies they will have to publish their own Companies Act accounts. There are also detailed accounting rules which, depending on the degree of control of the parent company, will require any of these categories to be brought into its consolidated accounts.
	Trusts are not specifically covered in the Companies Acts. However, to the extent that a trust or other undertaking qualifies as a quasi subsidiary under Financial Reporting Standard 5, accounting standards require lengthy disclosures relating to the trust. The Urgent Issues Task Force of the Accounting Standards Board has issued UITF abstract38 on accounting for Employee Share Ownership Plan trusts. This requires the disclosure of information sufficient to enable readers to understand the significance of the ESOP trust in the context of the sponsoring company. Trusts which relate to pension schemes of a company (more specifically, their obligations under the scheme) are subject to lengthy disclosure requirements by accounting standards.
	The EU is expected later this year to adopt a directive amending the 4th and 7th company law directives on accounting. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to consult fully on implementation of its requirements, including on the disclosure of off balance sheet arrangements and related party transactions. The latter are also covered by the disclosure requirements of accounting standards.

Consultants/Special Advisers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) consultants and (b) special advisers were employed by his Department in each year since 1997; what the cost of each was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Specific data on the number of consultants employed by the Department of Trade and Industry is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	With respect to special advisers, this information is published on an annual basis. For the most recent information I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 158–62WS.

Correspondence

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reply to letters from the hon. Member for Canterbury dated (a) 3 August 2005 and (b) 10 October 2005.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 20 December 2005
	I apologise for the long delay in responding to the hon. Member's letters, this was due to an administrative error. The issue he was raising is a matter for HM Treasury and has been transferred to them for reply.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the items of departmental property worth over £100 that have been reported as (a) lost and (b) broken in the last 12 months.

Alan Johnson: Thirty items of small portable equipment which have a value of £100 or above (21 laptops, one monitor and eight data projectors) have been reported as missing or stolen from all DTI buildings in the last twelve months. No separate record is kept of broken items as these are replaced or repaired as part of the Department's normal maintenance regimes.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997.

Alan Johnson: Central records indicate that the cost to the Department of engaging external consultants and advisers in each of the following financial years has been as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1999–2000 21 
			 2000–01 36 
			 2001–02 64 
			 2002–03 93 
			 2003–04 112 
			 2004–05 86 
		
	
	I have asked the chief executives of the Executive Agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Letter from Jeff Llewellyn, dated 13 February 2006
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997.
	The total expenditure by NWML on external Consultants and Advisers in each year during the period 1997–1998 to 2004–2005 was:
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 (29)— 
			 1998–99 (29)— 
			 1999–2000 (29)— 
			 2000–01 64,087 
			 2001–02 80,290 
			 2002–03 71,010 
			 2003–04 68,119 
			 2004–05 53,837 
		
	
	(29) Not available.
	Letter from Tim Moss, dated 13 February 2006
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	Spend on external consultants and advisers by Companies House is as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 2004–05 664,000 
			 2003–04 931,000 
			 2002–03 674,000 
			 2001–02 504,000 
			 2000–01 565,000 
		
	
	Details from earlier years are unavailable due to the disproportionate cost of retrieval.
	Letter from Jeanne Spinks, dated 13 February 2006
	You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997.
	The Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) has spent the following amounts on external consultants and advisors in the following financial years:
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 2001–02 119,255 
			 2002–03 457,757 
			 2003–04 441,838 
			 2004–05 384,907 
		
	
	Information requested relating to earlier years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn, dated 13 February 2006
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2522/2005) requesting information on money spent on external consultants and advisors since May 1997.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry spent the following amounts on external consultants and advisors:
	
		£000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 Nil 
			 1998–99 (30)5 
			 1999–2000 Nil 
			 2000–01 Nil 
			 2001–02 (31)125 
			 2002–03 Nil 
			 2003–04 (32)34 
			 2004–05 Nil 
			 2005–06 (33)20 
		
	
	(30) Training strategy.
	(31) E business.
	(32) £18,000 race equality impact study and £16,000 help line study.
	(33) Publishing to the Intranet.
	Letter from Ron Marchant, dated 13 February 2006
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 19 December 2005, concerning how much was spent on external consultants and advisers in each year since May 1997.
	The Patent Office response is:
	
		£
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 39,000 
			 1998–99 8,000 
			 1999–2000 16,000 
			 2000–01 26,000 
			 2001–02 53,000 
			 2002–03 69,000 
			 2003–04 32,000 
			 2004–05 10,400 
			 2005–06(34) 17,500 
		
	
	(34) To date.

Departmental Groups

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are employed by (a) the Human Resources and Change Management Directorate, (b) Legal and Enforcement Unit, (c) Information and Workplace Directorate and (d) the Legal Group in (i) England and (ii) London; and what the (A) salary bill and (B) accommodation costs of each were in 2004–05.

Alan Johnson: The number of staff in post, taken from DTI's headcount monitoring system, as of 1 February 2006, and the full pay cost (including superannuation and employers NI contributions) for the financial year 2004–05, in the requested directorates are as follows:
	
		
			  Staff Full pay cost 2004–05 (£) 
		
		
			 HR and Change Management Directorate   
			 England 61 n/a 
			 Of which in London 61 — 
			
			 Legal and Enforcement Unit   
			 England 110 4,274,793.38 
			 Of which in London 40 — 
			
			 Information and Workplace Directorate   
			 England 206 8,586,985.56 
			 Of which in London 206 — 
			
			 Legal Group: (excluding Legal and Enforcement Unit) 
			 England 132 8,754,785.66 
			 Of which in London 132 — 
		
	
	n/a=Not available.
	Pay costs are only available for all UK employees which would disproportionably skew the 'full pay cost figure' for HR and Change Management Directorate due to the large number of employees based in Cardiff. Separated costs for HR in England and London could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	Specific data on the accommodation costs of separate directorates is not kept by the Department and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Groups

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff work in the (a) Employment Tribunals Service, (b) Insolvency Service and (c) Companies House in (i) England and (ii) London.

Alan Johnson: The following table shows a breakdown of the number of staff that work in England and London in their respective agencies as at 31 January 2006.
	
		Number
		
			  Permanent Casual 
		
		
			 Employment Tribunals Service   
			 England 669 9 
			 Of which, London 269 6 
			
			 Insolvency Service   
			 England 1,883 394 
			 Of which, London 419 116 
			
			 Companies House   
			 England 7 0 
			 Of which, London 7 0

Departmental Groups

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff work in (a) the Women and Equality Group, (b) the Women's National Commission, (c) the Export Control and Non-proliferation Directorate, (d) UK Trade and Investment, (e) the Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate, (f) Corporate Law and Governance and (g) the energy (i) industries and technology, (ii) markets, (iii) strategy and (iv) resources and development units; and what the total salary costs in each case were in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The number of staff in post, taken from DTI's headcount monitoring system, as of 1 February 2006, and the full pay cost (including, superannuation, and employers NI contributions) for the financial year 2004–05, in the requested directorates are as follows:
	
		
			   Staff Full pay cost 2004–05 (£) 
		
		
			 Women and Equality Group 36 2,652,545.40 
			 Womens National Commission 12 332,000 
			 Export Control and Non-proliferation Directorate 133 5,995,830.91 
			 UK Trade and Investment (DTI posts only) 507 23,226,000 
			 Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate 88 5,271,976.51 
			 Corporate Law and Governance 103 5,969,567.45 
			
			 Energy:   
			 (i) industries and technology 90 5,718,587.50 
			 (ii) markets unit 60 2,763,915.24 
			 (iii) strategy unit 99 3,750,685.59 
			 (iv) resources and development unit 141 6,356,625.11

Departmental IT Systems

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the outturn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion was of each system.

Alan Johnson: Due to a change in the Department's accounting system during 2003–04 and the devolved nature of the Department's ICT up until 2006, consistent information as requested cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
	However, since 1997 the Department's IT services have been provided through a PFI agreement with Fujitsu Services covering desktop services, web infrastructure services, document management and HR systems. The annual running costs for 2004–05 was £32 million.

Departmental Property

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by his Department in the past 12 months.

Alan Johnson: Thirty items of small portable equipment which have a value of £100 or above (21 Laptops, one monitor and eight data projectors) have been reported as missing or stolen from all DTI buildings in the last 12 months.

Departmental Recruitment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many job advertisements were placed by his Department (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what (i) total and (ii) average cost in each case.

Alan Johnson: When placing job advertisements, my Department uses the most appropriate advertising media, be it national, regional, local, trade magazine or website, depending on the nature of the posts to be filled. Any combination of these may be used in each exercise. Data on the total number of advertisements placed is not collected centrally.
	The costs of recruitment advertising are generally met from individual management units from their own delegated budgets and there are no centrally held records of the breakdown of advertising costs.

Departmental Staff

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff work in his Department's (a) the Employee Relations Directorate, (b) the European World Trade Directorate, (c) Finance and Resource Management and (d) the Energy Resources and Development Unit; and what the total salary costs in each case were in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The number of staff in post, taken from DTI's headcount monitoring system, as of 1 February 2006, and the full pay cost (including superannuation and employers NI contributions) for the financial year 2004–05, in the requested directorates are as follows:
	
		
			   Staff Full pay cost 2004–05 (£) 
		
		
			 Employee Relations Directorate 94 4,379,519.96 
			 European World Trade Directorate 79 4,614,225.83 
			 Finance and Resource Management 124 4,741,095.77 
			 Energy Resources and Development Unit 141 6,356,625.11

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Alan Johnson: The support costs for the Department's websites is included in the overall service charge paid monthly under the IT service contract in place since 1 April 1999. There is no separation of website costs in this charge. The number of visits to dti.gov.uk in the last 12 months was as follows:
	
		
			  Number of visits 
		
		
			 February 2005 975,173 
			 March 804,671 
			 April 790,981 
			 May 915,573 
			 June 667,124 
			 July 671,397 
			 August 795,329 
			 September 786,446 
			 October 1,121,153 
			 November 833,252 
			 December 602,885 
			 January 2006 (2–13) 925,430

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many departmental employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The number of staff who have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of ill-health retirements 
		
		
			 2001 11 
			 2002 11 
			 2003 8 
			 2004 6 
			 2005 (35)— 
		
	
	(35) Fewer than five, so information not provided on grounds of confidentiality.

Electricity Generation Licences

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Ofgem regarding a review of electricity generation licences;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Ofgem regarding a review of SLC 14 and SLC 15 with regards to electricity generation licences;
	(3)  if he will place a moratorium on applications for compulsory purchase powers by electricity generating companies until Ofgem has completed its review of SLC 14 and SLC 15;
	(4)  when Ofgem will undertake its reviews of (a) SLC 14 and SLC 15 and (b) the electricity generation licence.

Malcolm Wicks: I understand that Ofgem are anticipating publishing a consultation document in relation to SLCs 14 and 15 in April. The review will consider whether or not the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority should bring SLCs 14 and 15 into effect in all Electricity Generation Licences in order to allow Electricity Generation Licence holders to seek compulsory purchase powers from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
	Ofgem does not have any immediate plans to publish a consultation document in relation to a wider review of the generation licence.
	DTI officials are in touch with Ofgem and expect to be fully involved in the review process. There are no plans for a moratorium on applications for compulsory purchase powers in the interim.

Employee Pension Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation under which large companies, as defined in the Companies Act 1985, would be required to contribute at least 5 per cent. of their profits to employees' pension schemes.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	We have no plans to do so. The Pensions Commission published their report on 30 November 2005 containing recommendations for reform. This includes a recommendation that employers should make a financial contribution to the pensions of employees who are themselves contributing to a workplace scheme. The Government are now reflecting on the report and are committed to consulting with the public and stakeholders on the key issues as part of the national pensions debate. There is much to be discussed and decided on the detail of the recommendations and our response must meet the five tests we have set out—that is that the overall package of reforms must promote personal responsibility; must be fair, affordable, simple and sustainable.
	As far as the specific recommendations are concerned, the Government are ruling nothing in and nothing out. Ministers have asked the Pensions Commission to continue their involvement in the public debate over the next few months.
	The Government plan to publish a White Paper in the spring in response to the Pensions Commission's report. The White Paper will set out what legislation will be needed and a planned timetable for reforms.

Energy Review

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the projected increases in the population of England upon demand for energy.

Malcolm Wicks: Work to update UK energy and emissions projections is ongoing and includes a review of all key assumptions on fossil fuel prices and economic growth (including demographic projections on population and the number of households). The latest projections will be published shortly.

Energy Review

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason evidence submitted to the Energy Review is not available on a publicly accessible Department of Trade and Industry website.

Malcolm Wicks: All responses that are not subject to a confidentiality provision will be published on the DTI website together with a summary of the responses.

Energy Review

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the National Assembly for Wales Government's energy strategy of March 2003 is being considered as part of the Energy Review.

Malcolm Wicks: In bringing forward policy proposals to help the UK meet its medium and long-term energy policy goals, the Review will be working closely with the Devolved Administrations. My officials are meeting their counterparts from the Welsh Assembly Government on a regular basis and will be engaging directly with stakeholders in Wales.

Equitorial Guinea

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value was of exports to Equitorial Guinea in (a) 2000 and (b) 2005.

Ian Pearson: Information on the UK's exports of goods is not yet available for the whole of 2005.
	The latest data available is for the period January to November 2005. In 2000, the UK's exports of goods to Equatorial Guinea amounted to £28.1 million. In January to November 2005 the UK's exports of goods amounted to £35.9 million.

Estate Agents

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many estate agent businesses there were in each year since 1997 in (a) Leicester and (b) England.

John Healey: I have asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 13 February 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning how many estate agents businesses there were in each year since 1997 in (a) Leicester and (b) England. (49739)
	The figures for estate agents (SIC 7031) are provided in the attached table.
	These figures are based on the criteria used in the National Statistics publication UK Business: Activity, Size and Location" (formerly known as PA1003: Size Analysis of United Kingdom Businesses), published on the National Statistics website: www.statistics.gov.uk/ukbusiness, and relate to the number of local units operated by businesses registered for VAT as at March 1997 through to 2005.
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest five to avoid disclosure.
	
		Analysis shows the count of VAT based local units in England and Leicester UA from 1997 to 2005 for S1C2003,7031, real estate -- Data as at March of each year
		
			 Local unit count by specified year England Leicester UA 
		
		
			 1997 11,530 50 
			 1998 11,275 45 
			 1999 11,720 50 
			 2000 11,770 50 
			 2001 12,955 60 
			 2002 11,785 55 
			 2003 12,550 60 
			 2004 13,725 65 
			 2005 14,725 70

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the scale of windfall profits made by the energy generating sector as a result of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the member for Morley and Rothwell (Colin Challen) on 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1511W.

Fair Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much and what proportion of his Department's catering budget was spent on Fair Trade produce in the last period for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: Sales of fairly traded products on DTI premises including sales in the staff restaurants and coffee bars is estimated at approximately £700,000 which equates to 38 per cent. of total sales.

Fair Trade

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department's policy is on the procurement of Fair Trade produce for consumption on its premises.

Alan Johnson: DTI has adopted a policy to use fairly traded produce within its catering operations for a number of years and includes clauses within its service contract specification with its catering service provider.

Freedom of Information Act

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what total sum has been received by his Department for the provision of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in its first year of operation.

Alan Johnson: My Department did not charge for information released under the Freedom of Information Act during 2005.
	The Freedom of Information Act allows for public authorities to determine when the cost of processing a request will exceed the appropriate limit, which for central Government is set at £600 and for the wider public sector £450. In this instance the public authority may decide to either approach the applicant to help them refine their request and where possible to bring it under the appropriate limit. Alternatively, public authorities may charge the applicant the cost of processing the request. There is, however, no obligation for Departments to provide information if the cost of processing the request exceeds the appropriate limit.
	Public authorities may also charge for disbursements when handling requests where it is deemed appropriate. Further information on the FOI fees regime can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/feesguide.htm.

Fuel Poverty

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of how many people fall into fuel poverty for each percentage point increase in energy prices; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: We estimate that for each percentage point real increase across energy prices a further 40,000 vulnerable households would become fuel poor in England, with a proportionate increase in the devolved administrations. Each percentage point real increase in income reduces the number of vulnerable households in fuel poverty by about 40,000 households.
	Work on the best ways to tackle fuel poverty in the light of rising energy prices is being taken forward in the context of the energy review.

Gas Storage Capacity

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to increase the UK's gas storage capacity.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's policy is to ensure an effective gas market, to provide the price signals that incentivise commercial gas storage projects. Some 10 new projects are currently being developed, which (if they all proceed to commissioning) would more than double GB's gas storage capacity; the projects are listed in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's First Report to Parliament on Security of Gas Supply and Electricity Supply in Great Britain", available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy. The reports of JESS (the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group), also on the Department's website, help the market to work effectively by publishing information about the potential contribution of proposed gas infrastructure projects to gas supply. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced that the Government are reviewing the onshore consents regime for gas supply infrastructure, with new legislation if appropriate; and that the Government propose to introduce legislation to facilitate the construction of offshore salt caverns for gas storage. In addition, my right hon. Friend is preparing for submission to Parliament a statement of the national need for additional gas supply infrastructure, including storage facilities, to reinforce the existing arrangements for informing planning authorities. The Energy Review, and the Barker Review of the Planning and Land Use System, are also considering related issues.

Harlow North Sustainability Symposia

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representatives from his Department and public bodies for which his Department is responsible who attended the Harlow North Sustainability Symposia on 6 June.

Alan Johnson: No representatives from this Department or its public bodies attended the Harlow North Sustainability Symposia.

Home Credit Companies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the status of the consultation on improving the transparency of the process used by home credit companies to obtain written permission to offer a cash loan; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government announced their intention to consult stakeholders seeking views on ways to improve the transparency of the process whereby home credit companies gain the written permission needed to offer a cash loan on the doorstep through the credit agreement on another product, in Promoting Financial Inclusion" which was published alongside the pre-Budget report 2004. Subsequently the Office of Fair Trading referred the supply of home credit to the Competition Commission and an inquiry is ongoing. The canvassing of loans is one issue being considered by the Competition Commission as part of this inquiry. The Government will decide what further action may be necessary following the publication of the findings of this inquiry.

Home Information Pack

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to publicise to consumers the provisions of the Home Information Pack redress scheme.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 9 February 2006
	In approving a redress scheme for estate agents under Part 5 of the Housing Act 2004, we expect the Secretary of State to take into account applicants' proposals for raising awareness among consumers and members of the existence, content and scope of the redress scheme.
	The Government plan an extensive public information campaign about Home Information Packs before they are implemented in June 2007.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 1667W, on identity cards, whether his Department has finalised the current best estimates of the cost of using the identity card scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Alan Johnson: My Department does not at present anticipate a need to use the identity card scheme to support the services which it oversees and so has not made any estimate of the cost of using them. However, we will keep this matter under review.

Internet Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding charges for internet services provided by mobile telephone companies.

Alun Michael: To date, the Department has received no representations as regards to charges for internet services provided by the mobile network operators. Regulation of the mobile telecommunications sector, including pricing, is primarily a matter for the independent regulator Ofcom which has the power to review such matters if there is evidence of a need to do so.

Inward Investment/International Trade

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what schemes his Department employs to encourage (a) inward investment and (b) international trade; and what the annual cost has been of each.

Ian Pearson: The major schemes employed by UK Trade and Investment to encourage inward investment and in trade development activity, with the actual direct programme expenditure for those schemes in 2004–05, are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 (a) Inward Investment Schemes 
			 Grants to Regional Development Agencies 13.2 
			 Promotional Expenditure 9.7 
			 (b) Trade Development Schemes 
			 Support for exhibitions and seminars 19.5 
			 International Trade Advisors 14.7 
			 Sector Support in Markets 11.5 
			 Promotional Expenditure 9.0 
			 Passport 5.2 
			 Enterprise Scholarship Scheme 2.2 
			 Export Promoters 1.9 
			 Export Market Research Scheme 1.1 
			 Outward Missions 1.0 
			 Overseas Project Fund 0.6 
			 Sales Lead Service 0.4

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Alan Johnson: The Department does not centrally organise celebrations for religious or cultural events. All staff are encouraged to observe or celebrate the dates of such events via announcements on a weekly intranet bulletin, and many choose to do so.
	Guidance aimed at increasing staff awareness of a wide range of diversity, faith and cultural issues is also available on the Department's intranet.

Launch Investment

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will extend launch investment to British non-prime contractors.

Alun Michael: British non-prime contractors are not excluded from launch investment which is available to all civil aerospace manufacturers in the UK for the design and development of new civil aerospace projects. However, the provision of launch investment is entirely discretionary. There is no budget for launch investment and each application is considered on its merits against a range of established criteria and against public expenditure constraints.

London Allowance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to change the London allowance of its staff; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: There are no London Allowances for staff in DTI. For non-SCS staff there are London and national rates of pay. The London rates of pay are currently £3,500 higher than the equivalent national rates of pay. Under delegated pay bargaining changes to the pay system for non-SCS staff are subject to negotiation with the trade unions. Negotiations for pay in 2006 have not yet begun.

Mineworkers' Compensation Claims

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 289–90W, on mineworkers' compensation claims, which solicitors were retained by the Department for advice relating to mineworkers' compensation claims.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has received advice from Nabarro Nathanson and McClure Naismith solicitors relating to the mineworkers' compensation schemes since 2002.

Parliamentary Questions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last 12 months for answer by him on a named day (a) were transferred and (b) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) after the day named.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Named day questions
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Transferred (36)38 
			 Answered on the day 211 
			 Answered after the day 405 
		
	
	(36) Includes questions transferred before, on and after the answer date.
	Departments aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and to endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible but this Department makes every effort to achieve these time scales.

Political Donations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation requiring company employees to vote on all political donations made by their companies.

Alun Michael: The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 implemented the recommendation by the Committee on Standards in Public Life that any company intending to make a donation to a political party or organisation should be required to have the prior authority of its shareholders. We do not believe that there is any justification for legislating to require employees to vote on such donations.

Political Donations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation requiring companies to disclose all donations made to (a) political organisations and (b) parliamentarians.

Alun Michael: Companies are required to disclose donations to political organisations, including registered political parties, in the directors' report under the reporting requirements of Schedule 7 to the Companies Act 1985. Such disclosure is not required if the aggregate amount of donations and political expenditure did not exceed £200 in the relevant financial year.
	A political donation" for the purposes of this reporting requirement is defined by reference to sections 50 to 52 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Section 50(6) of that Act provides that anything given or transferred to any officer, member, trustee or agent of a registered party in his capacity as such (and not for his own use or benefit) is to be regarded as given or transferred to the party.
	The Company Law Reform Bill and regulations made under it will largely restate the current regime relating to the authorisation and disclosure of political donations by companies, but the Government has announced its intention to raise the £200 threshold for disclosure to £2,000.

Post Office Card Account

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with banks which do not have agreements with Post Office Ltd. on offering access to their current account customers through the Post Office branch network.

Barry Gardiner: None, Access to current accounts at post offices is a commercial matter between the Post office and individual banks.

Post Offices

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the average number of transactions in the last three years of trading at each (a) rural and (b) urban post office which has closed in each of the last five years; and what the average distance is that customers travel to the nearest post office following such closures.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). The chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Public Bodies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff the (a) Business and Innovation Groups, (b) British National Space Centre and (c) Business Relations and Support Unit had in the last year for which figures are available; how much each spent on (i) salaries and (ii) accommodation in that year; and whether these costs are identifiable or non-identifiable for the purpose of public expenditure statistical analysis.

Alan Johnson: The number of staff in post, taken from DTIs headcount monitoring system, as of 1 April 2005, and the full pay cost (including superannuation and employers NI contributions) for the financial year 2004–05, in the requested directorates are as follows:
	
		
			   Staff Full pay cost 2004–05 (£) 
		
		
			 Business and Innovation Groups 718 43,385,531.90 
			 British National Space Centre 30 1,376,384.95 
			 Business Relations and Support Unit 373 17,408,241.79 
		
	
	Specific data on the accommodation costs of separate directorates is not kept by the Department and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	These costs are non-identifiable for the purpose of public expenditure statistical analysis.

Public Bodies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff the (a) Regions Directorate, (b) Strategy Communications Unit and (c) Strategic Policy Analysis Unit of his Department had in the last year for which figures are available; how much each spent on (i) salaries and (ii) accommodation in that year for which figures are available; and whether these costs are identifiable or non-identifiable for the purpose of public expenditure statistical analysis.

Alan Johnson: The number of staff in post, taken from DTI's headcount monitoring system, as of 1 April 2005, and the full pay cost (including superannuation and employers NI contributions) for the financial year 2004–05, in the requested directorates are as follows:
	
		
			   Staff Full pay cost 2004–05 (£) 
		
		
			 Regions Directorate 63 2,918,048.22 
			 Strategy Communications Unit 57 n/a 
			 Strategy Policy Analysis Unit 54 n/a 
		
	
	n/a=Not available.
	Pay costs are only available as a group total for Strategy Communications Unit and Strategy Policy Analysis Unit combined. Due to the distribution of cost centres the specific information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Specific data on the accommodation costs of separate directorates is not kept by the Department and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	These costs are non-identifiable for the purpose of public expenditure statistical analysis.

Queen's Awards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how judges are selected and appointed for the Queen's Awards; and who the judges will be for the Queen's Awards in 2006.

Alan Johnson: The business Awards are made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The most senior Queen's Award selection committee is the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. The Advisory Committee is the only committee where the entire membership is made public, and is served by three separate Panels of Judges, one for each business Award category. Each Panel is chaired by a Permanent Secretary or equivalent position: Department of Trade & Industry (Innovation), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Sustainable Development), and the chief executive of UK Trade & Investment (International Trade).
	The Queen's Awards for Enterprise Promotion (an Award to individuals) are made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is advised by an Enterprise Promotion Assessment Committee (EPAC). EPAC is chaired by the director-general of Business Group, Department of Trade & Industry, and includes representatives of Government Departments and Agencies including the Small Business Service, the Department for Education and Skills, DTI, as well as the Small Business Council.
	Other than Government appointments, Queen's Award panel members are chosen on an ex-officio basis (i.e. it goes to a Chairman, president, or chief executive of a chosen organisation identified as a relevant body for a particular Award category. The PM's Advisory Committee has two independent members. Membership of junior panels is deliberately excluded from the public domain to avoid direct lobbying of panel members.
	
		Membership of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee
		
			  Organisation 
		
		
			 Cabinet Secretary Head of the Home Civil Service (Chairman) 
			 Permanent Secretary Department of Trade & Industry 
			 Permanent Secretary Department for Environment, Food and  Rural Affairs 
			 Chief Executive UK Trade & Investment 
			 President Confederation of British Industry 
			 Chairman International Financial Services London 
			 Chairman The Engineering Council UK 
			 General Secretary Trades Union Congress 
			 Independent Member — 
			 Independent Member —

Regional Development Agencies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 45W, on regional development agencies, when he will write with the relevant information.

Alun Michael: I replied to the hon. Member on 4 February 2006. Copies of the letter and accompanying tables have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Development Agencies

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where each Regional Development Agency office is located; and how much (a) inward investment and (b) trade each brought to its region in the last period for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The location of each Regional Development Agency (RDA) and the number of inward investment successes and associated employment that each secured in 2004–05 is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 RDA Location (Head Office) 2004–05 Investments New jobs Safeguarded jobs 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands Birmingham 34 2,645 461 
			 East of England Development Agency(37) Histon 33 994 819 
			 East Midlands Development Agency Nottingham 37 1,238 1,371 
			 London Development Agency(38) London 77 1,882 359 
			 North West Regional Development Agency Warrington 54 3214 2,389 
			 ONE North East Newcastle 44 1,912 3,999 
			 South East England Development Agency Guildford 57 2,059 1,056 
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency Exeter 12 1,053 847 
			 Yorkshire Forward Leeds 35 2,107 569 
		
	
	(37) Inward Investment co-ordinated by East of England International based in Cambridge
	(38) Inward Investment co-ordinated by Think London also based in London
	UK Trade and Investment, not the RDAs, is tasked with developing international trade in the English regions, where it operates as the international trades arm" for RDAs.

Renewable Power

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government supports co-firing biomass with coal in power stations as a method of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government identified co-firing of 5–10 per cent. biomass with coal as an option for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired generation in its Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy published in June 2005.
	Co-firing of biomass is supported through the Renewables Obligation and contributes to the Government's renewable electricity and climate change targets.

Renewable Power

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are in place to ensure joined-up cross-departmental working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on incentives to use bio-mass for electricity generation.

Malcolm Wicks: Cross-departmental working on sustainable energy is co-ordinated through the Sustainable Energy Policy Network.
	In the biomass area, officials from DTI and Defra work closely together—particular issues on which we have worked together include the Energy White Paper, assessment of Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme proposals, the Biomass Task Force, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's Biomass Report, the EU Biomass Action Plan, and the Renewables Obligation Review.

Smaller Companies

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures the Department has taken to make it easier for smaller companies to win orders from Government Departments.

Alun Michael: Together with the Office of Government Commerce, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) the Department has taken forward —the recommendations of the Better Regulation Task Force/Small Business Council Report 'Government: Supporter and Customer?' (May 2003). A progress report was issued in December 2005 1 . Highlights include:
	delivery of training to help procurers in the public sector across the English regions to understand the benefits of procurement from small businesses, social enterprises and the voluntary and community sector;
	working with the regional development agencies to deliver training across all the English regions to small businesses and social enterprises;
	awarding the contract to develop a national opportunities portal to be launched in spring 2006 to improve the visibility of public procurement opportunities to simplify the process for bidders and to enable public sector buyers to identify potential suppliers;
	implementing the mandatory requirement that at least 2.5 per cent. of public sector external research will be with small businesses;
	production of guidance on effective supply chain management for procurers and work with key suppliers to Government to make their sub contracting opportunities more visible to smaller companies;
	the launch of the simplified national pre-qualification questionnaire which will reduce the time businesses have to spend providing information when bidding for Government contracts;
	an investigation of the public sector's use of third party accreditation services; publication of research which demonstrates that removing barriers to the participation by small businesses in the public procurement market helps achieve efficiency 2 .
	1 http://www.supplyinggovernment.gov.uk/pdf/SBS_progress_ rep_Dec_05.pdf.
	2 http://www.sbs.gov.uk/SBS_Gov_files/services/sme-procurement-study.pdf.

Strategic Nuclear Assets and Capabilities

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he defines as the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear assets and capabilities.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 February 2006
	We have carried out no specific exercise covering civil nuclear power to define which assets and capabilities could be defined by the terms strategic" or non-strategic". However, consistent with our policy of Keeping the Nuclear Option Open, we have sought to maintain those skills, facilities and capabilities that might be required in the future.

Task Forces

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list each task force set up by his Department since 1997; who the members of each task force are; and with which businesses each non-departmental member is affiliated.

Alan Johnson: My Department has had involvement in a large number of task forces since 1997 and full details of the various business affiliates could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

UK Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of United Kingdom exports to Liechtenstein in 2005.

Ian Pearson: Information on the UK's exports of goods is not yet available for the whole of 2005. The latest data available is for the period January to November 2005. In this period, the UK's exports of goods to Liechtenstein amounted to £3.4 million.

UK Exports

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value was of UK exports to North Korea in (a) 1998 and (b) 2005.

Ian Pearson: Information on the UK's exports of goods is not yet available for the whole of 2005. The latest data available is for the period January to November 2005.
	In 1998, the UK's exports of goods to North Korea amounted to £10.8 million. In January to November 2005 the UK's exports of goods amounted to £0.3 million.

UK Trade and Investment

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the running cost was of each UK Trade and Investment office in the last period for which figures are available; and how much (a) inward investment each attracted and (b) trade each produced for UK businesses in that period.

Ian Pearson: Running costs are not separately broken down for each of UK Trade and Investment regional and overseas offices, so figures are not available in the form requested. In the financial year 2004–05, £14.7 million was paid to support trade development work by the organisation's regional network, and some £3 million was made available by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the salary costs of Government office civil servants providing administrative support. UK Trade and Investment paid £13.2 million through the DTI single pot for the provision of inward investment services by the regional development agencies.
	UK Trade and Investment's resource accounts for 2004–05 (Stationery Office HC785: available from the Libraries of the House) show that total UK Trade and Investment resource deployed overseas through the Foreign and Commonwealth office was £118 million on trade and £20 million on inward investment work.
	The remainder of UK Trade and Investment's resource is deployed for operations housed in the headquarters buildings in London and Glasgow.
	UK Trade and Investment does not record at local, regional or national level, information about the monetary value of trade or inward investment generated by its individual offices. In practice, individual companies may deal with regional, head office and overseas arms of the organisation. In addition, an individual company's performance in international trade, or its investment location decisions, are influenced by many external factors beyond UK Trade and Investment's control, including support services from other sources, as well as general economic factors.

Universal Banking Services

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with banks and building societies who signed the agreement with the Government on the provision of universal banking services on the future of those services.

Barry Gardiner: None. Discussions about the future of the universal banking services are commercial matters for Post Office Limited and the individual banks.

Universal Banking Services

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the banks and building societies which signed the agreement with the Government on the provision of universal banking services.

Barry Gardiner: The following financial institutions signed up to the concept of universal banking: Abbey National Group, Alliance and Leicester, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Co-operative Bank, First Trust, Halifax—Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Lloyds-TSB, National Australia Group, Nationwide Building Society, Northern Rock, Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

Vandalism

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the acts of vandalism which have been perpetrated (a) inside and (b) on the outside of his Department's buildings in the last 12 months.

Alan Johnson: There have been no acts of vandalism on DTI buildings in the last twelve months.

Voice Stress Software

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had in the last two years on the use of voice stress software in the assessment of claims for compensation under schemes for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In view of the increasing use of voice stress software in the insurance industry, discussions involving the Department's contractors took place in October 2004. The decision was taken not to proceed with the use of such technology and no further discussions have taken place.

WEEE Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date the draft regulations in respect of the waste electronic and electrical equipment directive will be published; and for what reason publication has not yet taken place.

Malcolm Wicks: As I announced on 14 December 2005, we are currently reviewing progress on implementation of the WEEE directive. We expect to be able to publish new draft regulation for public consultation in the spring once the review has concluded.

Working Time Legislation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those categories of personnel exempted from European working time legislation as not being classified as workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following categories of people are not regarded as workers" under the European Working Time Directive (and the Working Time Regulations 1998 which implement the directive)—holders of political and elected office, voluntary workers and the self-employed. Domestic servants are also expressly excluded.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that consultees are able to respond fully to (a) the consultation on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and (b) the Health and Safety Executive's newly commissioned research; and what the time scales are for the consultations.

Anne McGuire: The consultation on proposed amendments to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 was widely publicised and the Consultative Document was distributed to the Health and Safety Executive's list of stakeholders and partners at the start of the consultation period. The document was available on the Health and Safety Executive's website, and responses were accepted by email. I am informed by HSC that key stakeholders have submitted their views.
	When agreeing to the publication of the Consultative Document the HSC questioned whether the research into work with textured decorative coatings reflected the way this work is actually carried out. In response to this the Health and Safety Executive has arranged for the work to be peer reviewed and commissioned a piece of further research. The Health and Safety Executive will announce the results of this research when these become available. They will discuss this with stakeholders or their representatives as part of the consultation analysis. This, with the original responses to the consultation, will inform any recommendations the Health and Safety Executive makes to the Health and Safety Commission for new regulations.

Asbestos

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the timescale for removing asbestos from buildings; what assessment he has made of where in the country is worst affected by asbestos; what penalties are in place for those who disregard the new asbestos regulations; and where the safe disposal of asbestos will take place.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) A Risk Assessment provided as Annex D(A) of the Consultative Document on Proposals for Revised Asbestos Regulations and an approved Code of Practice" (CD205) contains an estimate that about one third of installed asbestos has already been removed and the remaining asbestos material would be removed over a 50-year period. This is an overall estimate and the amount removed will vary for particular products.
	(b) Asbestos is present in buildings widespread throughout Great Britain. Figures are not available on the worst affected areas.
	(c) The penalties for breach of the proposed new asbestos regulations are as follows:
	on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum, currently £5,000; or
	on conviction on indictment an unlimited fine.
	In the case of licensing offences the penalty may be imprisonment for up to two years.
	There is also the possibility of prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the penalties are as follows:
	on summary conviction, a maximum fine of £20,000, or
	on conviction on indictment and an unlimited fine.
	For breach of an improvement or prohibition notice, similar penalties are available with the addition of imprisonment for up to six months on summary conviction or two years on conviction on indictment.
	(d) Asbestos waste goes to landfill. Regulation 16 of the 2004 Landfill Regulations sets out the criteria for land filling of asbestos waste and construction materials containing asbestos.

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the savings from detected benefit fraud for (a) his Department and (b) local authorities were in each of the last six years.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available for local authorities as data is not collated centrally.
	The available information for DWP is in the table.
	
		Monetary Value Adjustments (MVA)(39) by DWP
		
			  MVA (£) 
		
		
			 1999–2000 27,984,245 
			 2000–01 22,109,627 
			 2001–02 16,382,983 
			 2002–03 16,057,813 
			 2003–04 14,588,905 
			 2004–05 10,722,213 
		
	
	(39) Previously Weekly Benefit Savings.
	Note:
	The MVA scheme was introduced from 1 April 1999. MVA is the difference between the weekly amount of benefit that would have been paid or would have continued to be paid, and the benefit paid following the decision maker's decision on the information gathered. It includes both increases and decreases.
	Source:
	Fraud Information by Sector (FIBS) and General Matching Service (QMS).
	The overall figures for MVA have reduced each year. This is due to a reduction in the amount of Instrument of Payment (IOP) fraud detected over this period. Non IOP related MVA has remained stable at around £6 million. Detected IOP frauds have fallen because of the Department's success in reducing the prevalence of this type of fraud through detection and, more recently, changes to the methods of payment that prevent this type of fraud. As at April 2005, 98 per cent. of pensioners and 95 per cent. of working age customers were paid by Direct Payment.
	The MVA figures do not relate to the published fraud and error overpayment figures used for the PSA target. This is because the published fraud and error figures use a sampling system to estimate how much has been overpaid or underpaid in fraud and error. This includes overpayment that has not been uncovered and identified but is estimated to exist. MVAs only relate to adjustments made to a claim after a fraud investigation and so will not include any figures for error, or any estimates of fraud that has not been uncovered and investigated.

Benefit Payments

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on delays in payment of new benefit claims in (a) West Dumbartonshire and (b) the UK for (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) income support and (iii) incapacity benefit in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what his Department is doing to reduce the backlog of claimants waiting for their correct entitlement of (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) income support and (c) incapacity benefit.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking if he will make a statement on delays in the payment of new benefit claims in West Dumbartonshire, and the UK, for Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support and Incapacity Benefit in the last 12 months; and what his department is doing to reduce the backlog of claimants waiting for a decision on their claim for these benefits. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Claims for Income Support and Incapacity Benefit made in Great Britain were within our profile clearance times of 12 and 19 days respectively in December 2005. They were also within profile for the year to December 2005. Claims processed at the Clydebank Combined Social Security Office (CSSO) were also within these profiles.
	The time taken to clear a Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) claim (the Actual Average Clearance Time) increased between April and November 2005. In Clydebank CSSO, JSA clearance times were consistently within the planning assumption up until September resulting in a year to date figure that is also within the planning assumption.
	A JSA taskforce has been created to address fluctuating clearance times and set in place immediate recovery measures, whilst longer term and more fundamental issues are also being taken forward. More immediate measures include the more effective distribution of workloads amongst the Contact Centre network to improve performance.
	Building on the taskforce work, the Jobcentre Plus Chief Operating Officer will shortly launch a National Action Plan. The Action Plan is built around a mandatory series of health checks", taking local managers through the whole end to end process, identifying key risk elements and, where a part of the process fails the health check, directing managers to appropriate good practice products and tool-kits.
	This will be strengthened by regular senior management attention particularly in this area. Where performance is below expectation, Districts and Contact Centres will be required to draw up their own individual recovery plans.
	I hope this is helpful.

Benefit Statistics

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Kettering constituency received (a) widow's benefit, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit and (d) income support in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: holding answer on 28 October 2005
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		Bereavement benefit and widows benefit recipients in the Kettering parliamentary constituency: May 2000–2005
		
			 As at August Bereavement benefit Widows benefit 
		
		
			 2000 n/a 400 
			 2001 n/a 400 
			 2002 100 300 
			 2003 100 300 
			 2004 100 200 
			 2005 100 200 
		
	
	n/a=Not applicable.
	Notes:
	1. Bereavement benefit replaced widows benefit for new claims in April 2001
	2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
	3. Breakdown by parliamentary constituency is not available prior to May 2000.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
	
		Housing benefit and council tax benefit caseloads in Kettering borough council: May 1997 to May 2005
		
			 As at August Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1997 4,400 6,100 
			 1998 4,300 5,900 
			 1999 4,000 5,500 
			 2000 3,400 4,800 
			 2001 4,000 5,400 
			 2002 3,500 4,800 
			 2003 3,800 5,100 
			 2004 3,800 5,400 
			 2005 3,900 5,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for housing benefit and council tax benefit are not available for parliamentary constituencies.
	2. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	4. Council tax benefit totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.
	5. Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	Source:
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit Management Information System. Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken between August 1997 and August 2005.
	
		Income support claimants in the Kettering parliamentary constituency: May 1997 to May 2005
		
			 As at August Claimants 
		
		
			 1997 2,400 
			 1998 2,200 
			 1999 2,400 
			 2000 2,400 
			 2001 2,400 
			 2002 2,400 
			 2003 2,300 
			 2004 2,200 
			 2005 2,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. For comparison purposes, the income support figures do not include pensioners. Income support has not been payable to pensioners since October 2003.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, combination of Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and 5 per cent. sample data.

Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are made for assessing over time the (a) quality of advice and (b) delivery to claimants of benefit systems adopted by the Department.

Margaret Hodge: The Department monitors the quality and effectiveness of service delivery to customers through a set of targets and key management indicators. Our mystery shopping monitoring programme measures the speed, accuracy and quality of the advice given and other targets measure the efficiency and accuracy of six key processes against a set of agreed standards. Together they provide an overall assessment of performance at a local, regional or national level.
	We also regularly analyse customer complaints data about the advice and information we provide to enable us to target areas for improvement; and additionally the Department's disability and carers service works with voluntary sector organisations to enable them to provide consistent and accurate information about benefits available to disabled people.

Child Poverty

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether progress towards the target of halving child poverty by 2010 will be measured (a) before and (b) after taking into account housing costs.

Margaret Hodge: The document 'Measuring child poverty' published in December 2003 outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long term. This measure forms the basis for the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target set in the 2004 spending review to halve the number of children in relative low-income households between 1998–99 and 2010–11, on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020.
	The new measure will consist of three tiers; absolute low income, relative low income and material deprivation and low income combined. In 2006, we are planning to set the material deprivation and relative low income measures.
	Across all three tiers income is equivalised, that is, adjusted to take into account variations in both size and composition of the household, and aiming to match current European conventions to make international comparisons easier, as we aim to be among the best in Europe. The modified Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) equalisation scale will be used; this scale is used with income on a before housing costs basis.
	The Government will continue to monitor progress on an after housing costs basis in order to monitor the impact of high housing costs on child poverty. Meanwhile the new material deprivation tier contains a range of items which capture housing deprivation including: the number of bedrooms for children, heating adequacy, and keeping the home in a decent state of decoration.
	Housing is also an important part of the Government's overall strategy on poverty and social exclusion. Our annual opportunity for all report monitors the proportion of children in non-decent homes, and includes an indicator that monitors the proportion of families with children in temporary accommodation.

Child Poverty

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made to date in meeting the Government's child poverty targets (a) before and (b) after taking into account housing costs.

Margaret Hodge: The Prime Minister made a pledge in March 1999 to eradicate child poverty within 20 years. Since then the Government have succeeded in arresting and reversing the previous trend in rising child poverty.
	The most recent data shows that between 1998–99 and 2003–04 the number of children in relative low-income households fell from 3.1 million to 2.6 million on a before housing cost basis (BHC) and from 4.1 million to 3.5 million on an after housing cost basis (AHC).
	The Government are broadly on track to meet their target, set in the 2002 spending review, to reduce the number of children in low-income households by at least a quarter by 2004–05, as a contribution towards the broader target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020.

Child Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to end child poverty.

Margaret Hodge: The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators.
	The Government's target, set in the 2002 spending review, is to reduce the number of children in low-income households by at least a quarter by 2004–05, as a contribution towards the broader target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020.
	The technical note setting out details of how the child poverty PSA target announced in the 2004 spending review will be measured has now been published on the DWP and HM Treasury websites. We have made a clear commitment to set a target on the new material deprivation measure when data on material deprivation becomes available. All of these targets will need to be met for us to have fully realised our ambition to halve child poverty by 2010.
	We will continue to report progress on the target to decrease the number of children living in relative low income by 2004–05. Final data for this target will be published later this year.
	As set out in Households Below Average Income (HBAI), between 1998–99 and 2003–04 (the latest data available) the number of children living in relative low-income households fell by 500,000 on a before housing costs basis and by 600,000 on an after housing costs basis.
	The Government are broadly on track to meet its 2004–05 target. Final data for the 2004–05 target will be available in March 2006.

Child Poverty

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of children were living in families which received below 60 per cent. of median household income in (a) England, (b) each English region, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales in 2004–05.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer on 6 February 2006
	The information requested is in the tables.
	
		Proportion of children living in households with less than60 per cent. of contemporary median household income—2001–02 to 2003–04
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Before housing costs  
			 England 20 
			 of which:  
			 North East 27 
			 North West and Merseyside 23 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 24 
			 East Midlands 22 
			 West Midlands 24 
			 Eastern 14 
			 London 23 
			 South East 13 
			 South West 17 
			 Wales 23 
			 Scotland 23 
			   
			 After housing costs  
			 England 29 
			 of which:  
			 North East 32 
			 North West and Merseyside 30 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 30 
			 East Midlands 27 
			 West Midlands 31 
			 Eastern 22 
			 London 38 
			 South East 21 
			 South West 27 
			 Wales 29 
			 Scotland 27 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey
	
		Number of children living in households with less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income—2001–02 to 2003–04 -- Million
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Before housing costs  
			 England 2.2 
			 of which:  
			 North East 0.1 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.4 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0.3 
			 East Midlands 0.2 
			 West Midlands 0.3 
			 Eastern 0.2 
			 London 0.4 
			 South East 0.2 
			 South West 0.2 
			 Wales 0.1 
			 Scotland 0.2 
			   
			 After housing costs  
			 England 3.1 
			 of which:  
			 North East 0.2 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.5 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0.3 
			 East Midlands 0.3 
			 West Midlands 0.4 
			 Eastern 0.3 
			 London 0.6 
			 South East 0.4 
			 South West 0.3 
			 Wales 0.2 
			 Scotland 0.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Child Support Agency new scheme cases were stockpiled in the year to March 2003; how many of these cases are still waiting to be processed; what proportion of these cases originated from (a) parents with care on income support or income-related jobseeker's allowance and (b) parents with care not on income support or income-related jobseeker's allowance; how many are in (i) the pre-application stage, (ii) the application stage, (iii) the information-gathering stage and (iv) the calculation and collection set-up stage prior to first payment being received; and what average time these stockpiled cases have spent at each stage.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Hilary Reynolds
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive, as Stephen Geraghty is on leave I am replying on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new scheme cases were stockpiled in the year to March 2003; how many of these cases are still waiting to be processed; what proportion of these cases originated with concern (a) parents with care on income support or income-related job seeker's allowance and (b) parents with care not on income support or income related job seeker's allowance; how many are in (i) the pre application stage (ii) the application stage (iii) the information gathering stage and (iv) the calculation and collection set-up stage prior to first payment being received; and what the average time is these stockpiled cases have spent at each stage.
	5,500 new scheme applications had a date for first contact with the Agency between 1st January and 2nd March 2003. Of these, 1000 of were still waiting to be cleared at the end of September 2005, where an application is defined as cleared if it:
	has had a calculation and a payment arrangement set up;
	has been closed;
	is identified as having had a good cause decision accepted;
	is identified as being subject to a reduced benefit decision;
	is identified as a change of circumstances to an existing case, as opposed to a new application.
	In 25 per cent. of these 5,500 cases, the parent with care had applied for income support or income-related jobseekers allowance and had been referred to the Agency by Jobcentre Plus, with the remaining 75 per cent. having applied direct to the Agency in a private capacity.
	The table below details the current status of the 1,000 cases that were waiting to be cleared—as at September 2005:
	
		Status of uncleared CSA new scheme applications received between 1 January and 2 March 2005 as at end September 2005
		
			 Application Stage Number of cases 
		
		
			 1st contact to pre-application clearance Less than 50 
			 Awaiting application clearance 500 
			 Awaiting post calculation clearance 500 
		
	
	There were an additional 500 cases that had cleared the application process, but were still awaiting the first payment.
	The average time the 5,500 cases had spent in each stage of the application process, and also the subsequent first payment stage, can be split between cases that had cleared that particular stage and those that were still in that stage. These figures are detailed in the table below:
	
		Average time spent in particular stages of the application process by cases received between 1 January and 2 March 2005 as at end September 2005
		
			  Average number of days spent in particular stages 
			 Application stage Cases that have cleared this stage Cases that have not cleared this stage 
		
		
			 1st contact to pre-application clearance 95 979 
			 Application intake to application  clearance 193 775 
			 Post calculation intake to post  calculation clearance 51 634 
			 Post calculation clearance to first  payment 91 540 
		
	
	Notes to tables:
	1. The pre-application stage is where a potential application is screened to establish whether it is valid. Pre-application clearance is where the case either progresses to the application stage, a reduced benefit decision (RBD) is applied, good cause is accepted, or the case is closed.
	2. A case enters application stage where it has been accepted as valid at the pre-application stage. An application clearance occurs when a calculation is carried out, a RBD is subsequently applied, good cause is subsequently accepted or the case is subsequently closed.
	3. A case enters post calculation stage where clearance at the application stage results in a calculation being carried out. Post calculation clearance is where a collection schedule is set up, an MD arrangement is set up immediately after calculation, a RBD is subsequently applied, good cause is subsequently accepted, the case is subsequently closed, or the calculation is classified as being a nil liability meaning that no further action is required.
	4. The first payment stage is the time between a collection schedule being set up and a first payment being made to the PWC, or a Maintenance Direct arrangement being put in place. Additionally, there are a small number of cases where payment was made to the PWC prior to a schedule or Maintenance Direct arrangement being agreed (i.e. voluntary payments), which have been excluded from the analysis aforementioned.
	5. There are 161,000 cases received via the Jobcentre Plus interface for which we do not currently have sufficient management information to decide how many of them would or would not fall within the scope of this analysis.
	6. Figures are rounded to either the nearest day or hundred cases.
	I hope you find this information helpful.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the total pensions liability for senior civil servants at the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the total pensions liability for senior civil servants at the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.
	The latest estimate of the total pensions liability for Department for Work and Pensions senior civil servants working in the Child Support Agency, was calculated at 31 March 2005, to be
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Total Pension 165,239 
			 Total Lump Sum 428,634 
			 Total Cash Equivalent Transfer Value 2,297,143 
		
	
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Child Support Agency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many court cases have been commenced by the Child Support Agency in respect of non-payment of assessed maintenance by non-resident parents in Scotland in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency;
	(2)  how many cases are under consideration for court action by the Child Support Agency for non-payment of assessed maintenance by non-resident parents in Scotland, broken down by parliamentary constituency;
	(3)  how many cases of non-payment of maintenance by non-resident parents in Scotland have been reported by the Child Support Agency for prosecution in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency;
	(4)  how many of the cases of non-payment of maintenance reported by the Child Support Agency in Scotland for possible prosecution in each of the last five years have resulted in proceedings being commenced;
	(5)  for what reasons proceedings have been dropped in cases reported by the Child Support Agency for prosecution due to non-payment of maintenance by non-resident parents in Scotland in which no prosecution has been commenced in each of the last five years;
	(6)  what the average penalty imposed against non-resident parents for non-payment of assessed child maintenance where prosecutions have been commenced after report by the Child Support Agency in Scotland was in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Hilary Reynolds
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about enforcement activity in the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive, as he is currently on leave I am responding on his behalf.
	I will respond to each question sequentially.
	.
	It is not possible to provide historical information according to Parliamentary constituency as this could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. The information provided covers all cases held which fall within Scottish legal jurisdiction, that is where the non-resident parent is domiciled in Scotland irrespective of where the parent with care is resident within Great Britain.
	The commencement of civil debt recovery action requires that a liability order is obtained from the Magistrates courts in England and Wales or the Sheriff courts in Scotland. The liability order is legal recognition that the debt exists and enables the Secretary of State to use enforcement measures to recover the debt.
	The table below shows the number of Liability Order applications submitted to the Sheriff courts in Scotland during the last five years.
	
		
			  Liability Order applications 
		
		
			 2000–01 116 
			 2001–02 110 
			 2002–03 282 
			 2003–04 459 
			 2004–05 731 
			 2005 to November 2005 827 
			 Total 2,525 
		
	
	.
	As at 22 December 2005 there were 15 cases under consideration for liability orders through the Scottish legal system. The following table breaks the information down by Scottish Parliamentary constituency area and is based on the domiciliary address of the non-resident parent resident in Scotland.
	
		
			  Scottish parliamentary constituency area Cases under consideration for court action for non-payment of assessed maintenance 
		
		
			 Edinburgh, South 1 
			 Central Ayrshire 1 
			 North Ayrshire and Arran 3 
			 Ochill and South Perthshire 2 
			 Edinburgh, East 1 
			 West Dumbartonshire 1 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire, South 1 
			 Edinburgh, North and Leith 1 
			 Falkirk 2 
			 Perth and North Perthshire 1 
			 Glasgow, East 1 
			 Total 15 
		
	
	Note:
	The reason for the low volume of cases awaiting action is due to there being an internal target in place to have any case progressed within 2 days of receipt by the Enforcement Directorate to ensure swift commencement of legal proceedings.
	.
	There is no difference in the total number of cases reported for committal or disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence, and the total number commenced for which figures are shown in my response to the next question.
	.
	Detailed below are the number of non-resident parents who have been issued with a citation to attend an initial hearing date in the Sheriff Courts in Scotland for commitment to prison or disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence.
	
		Non-resident parents referred to solicitors for committal/disqualification from holding or obtaining a driving licence:
		
			  Number of non-resident parents cited to attend committal hearings in Scotland 
		
		
			 September 2003 to March 2004 1 
			 2002–05 19 
			 2005 to November 2005 74 
			 Total 94 
		
	
	.
	Cases withdrawn or dismissed from court will be at the Agency's request either as a result of the debtor entering into an agreement to pay or settling his debt in full or as a result of the non-resident parent providing information which allows the Agency to reassess his liability which wipes out his arrears.
	.
	In the period to the end of November 2005 there has been one suspended prison sentence, two suspended driving licence withdrawals and two suspended driving licence sentences. The information is broken down by Parliamentary constituency in the table below.
	
		
			 Scottish parliamentary constituency area Sentences passed Year 
		
		
			 Airdrie and Shotts 1 driving licence withdrawn for 180 days 2004–05 
			 Glasgow, South 1 suspended driving licence withdrawal (180 days) April to November 2005 
			 Livingston 1 suspended committal sentence (21 days) April to November 2005 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire, South 1 driving licence withdrawn for180 days April to November 2005 
			 Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk 1 suspended driving licence withdrawal (91 days) April to November 2005 
			 Total 5  
		
	
	I hope this response is helpful.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the compliance rate for deduction of earnings orders issued by the Child Support Agency were in each reporting period since 1 January 2000; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the compliance rate for deduction of earnings orders issued by the Child support Agency were in each reporting period since 1st January 2000; and if he will make a statement.
	The information requested can be found in the annex.
	To place these figures into context, it should be noted that, whilst the general trend in the compliance rate for deduction from earnings orders has been negative, the rate of compliance as a whole has been stable since April 2004, with the Agency obtaining some form of payment from 70 per cent. of cases in which maintenance was due via the collection service, with the remainder of non resident parents not taking any financial responsibility for their children.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		Quarterly compliance rate for deduction of earnings orders, February 2000 to August 2005
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 February 2000 80 
			 May 2000 82 
			 August 2000 82 
			 November 2000 83 
			 February 2001 83 
			 May 2001 84 
			 August 2001 84 
			 November 2001 85 
			 February 2002 83 
			 May 2002 86 
			 August 2002 86 
			 November 2002 86 
			 February 2003 87 
			 May 2003 — 
			 August 2003 — 
			 November 2003 — 
			 February 2004 — 
			 May 2004 80 
			 August 2004 78 
			 November 2004 78 
			 February 2005 76 
			 May 2005 77 
			 August 2005 76 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Robust information covering the period May 2003 to February 2004 is not currently available.
	3. The above includes those old scheme cases with a full maintenance assessment, and those new scheme cases with either a full maintenance calculation, or a default maintenance decision. Old scheme cases with a punitive interim maintenance assessment (an imposed assessment due to the non co-operation of the Non Resident Parent), a small number of which would have deductions from earnings orders in place, are excluded from this analysis in line with the Agency's target definitions, as are new scheme cases being processed clerically.
	4. Compliance is defined here as all those cases that are currently open and have paid money via the collection service over the preceding quarter expressed as a percentage of all those (currently open) cases with a collection service maintenance liability over the same quarter.

Child Support Agency

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2006, Official Report, columns 274–75W, in how many of the 5,673 cases in the last five years where the Independent Case Examiner found failure by the Child Support Agency and recommended that the Agency should pay compensation, the Child Support Agency paid compensation; and in how many of those cases the amount of compensation was in excess of £1,000.

James Plaskitt: The Independent Case Examiner makes recommendations for the award of financial redress, but has no authority to specify the amount of such payments. This decision remains the responsibility of the Child Support Agency. The following information reflects data held by the Independent Case Examiner's Office.
	
		Number
		
			  Financial redress recommendations Awards made Awards over £1,000 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,117 n/a n/a 
			 2001–02 1,080 n/a n/a 
			 2002–03 868 1,306 126 
			 2003–04 1,004 1,163 104 
			 2004–05 1,604 1,800 160 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information on awards made is only available from 2002–03, since when ICE has collated relevant data from information provided by the Child Support Agency.
	2. Case review may lead to more than one recommendation should multiple instances of maladministration be identified.
	3. More than one award can be made on a case, in respect of different types of financial redress.
	4. For similar reasons, case resolution/reports may include more than one recommendation for financial redress. Financial redress may include consolatory payments, ex-gratia payments, payments for actual financial loss, deferment of arrears, advance payments of maintenance, interest payments, or refunds of maintenance paid.

Civil Servants

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants working in his Department are aged between 18 and 25 years.

Anne McGuire: As at 31 October 2005, a total 10,123 civil servants were working in the Department who were aged between 18 and 25 years. This figure includes temporary staff.

Consultants

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the main (a) technology suppliers, (b) consultancy firms and (c) strategy consultants engaged by the Department in each year since 1997; and how much was spent on each.

Margaret Hodge: Information is provided for the years since the Department for Work and Pensions was formed in 2001. The Department's information systems categorise expenditure into IS/IT suppliers and consultancy. The consultancy category will also contain strategy consultants but this expenditure could not be isolated without incurring disproportionate cost. The Department's expenditure with its top five IS/IT and consultancy suppliers by expenditure in 2004–05 and the expenditure with these firms in the three earlier years is provided in the following table. The figures provided relate to IS/IT and consultancy expenditure with these suppliers in the year, a number of suppliers provide both types of service to the Department.
	
		DWP expenditure with its top five IS/IT and consultancy suppliers since 2001–02 -- £ million
		
			 IS/IT suppliers 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 EDS 439.7 715.6 834.7 705.6 
			 BT 103.5 135.7 201.6 172.9 
			 IBM 0.2 19.4 59.3 52.0 
			 Computacentre 55.5 95.2 77.1 34.4 
			 Oracle Corporation 0 0 0.3 18.7 
			  
			 Consultancy 
			 ATOS Origin(40) 58.7 44.2 8.2 25.9 
			 Accenture 0 0 4.0 45.9 
			 Capgemini 2.3 3.5 7.5 17.9 
			 Booz Alien Hamilton 0 0 30.7 16.9 
			 PA Consulting 4.9 12.3 17.5 13.6 
		
	
	(40) ATOS Origin acquired SchlumbergerSema in September 2003, figures for 2001–02 relate to SchlumbergerSema.

Council Tax Benefits (West Midlands)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Coventry, South and (b) the West Midlands region are (i) entitled to council tax benefits and (ii) receiving council tax benefits; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The latest available information on unclaimed council tax benefit is in Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2003/2004", a copy of which is in the Library.
	Information on council tax benefit claimants is not available by parliamentary constituency. As at August 2005 there were 488,200 households in the West Midlands and 32,100 households in the Coventry city council area receiving council tax benefit.

Deduction from Benefits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the impact on the extent of financial exclusion has been of the introduction of the scheme to enable lenders to recover debts through deduction from benefits.

James Plaskitt: DWP plays an active part in contributing to the Government's aims of ensuring that people who are financially excluded have access to low cost credit in a way that does not encourage vulnerable people into unsustainable debt.
	In addition to administration of the Growth Fund, the Department is working with the Treasury to set up a facility whereby certain low cost lenders will be able to apply for deductions from benefits in the event of default. These measures should help increase the supply of affordable credit and reduce the need for people without access to mainstream banking to rely on high cost lenders.

Departmental Estate

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) land and (b) property is owned by his Department in Forest of Dean constituency.

Anne McGuire: The Department's estate has been sold or transferred under a PFI partnership deal to Land Securities Trillium (LST) and in return for the payment of a unitary charge, LST is responsible for providing a full facilities management service across the estate. Therefore the Department does not own any (a) land or (b) property in the Forest of Dean constituency.
	The Rent Service and The Health and Safety Executive are not part of the Department PFI arrangement, but neither owns any (a) land or (b) property in the Forest of Dean constituency.

Departmental Relocation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many staff in his Department have been relocated into London and the South East in each of the last five years for which records are available;
	(2)  what plans he has to relocate staff in his Department and related agencies into London and the South East.

Anne McGuire: No staff within the Department for Work and Pensions have been relocated into London and the South East since June 2003. Information is not available on relocations prior to this date.
	The Department has no plans to relocate staff into London and the South East.

Departmental Running Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the running costs of his central Department for 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Information on departmental running costs in resource terms, including a breakdown by client group, is published on an annual basis in the Department's Departmental Report, which can be found in the Libraries of the House. The 2005 Departmental Report was published in June 2005 (Cm 6539).

Departmental Staff

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to support staff with mental ill-health.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recognises that mental health conditions are one of the major causes of certified sickness absence among working age people. The Department has a number of policies, procedures and other interventions in place which aim to identify and support our own staff who may be suffering from such conditions.
	The Department's Attendance Management policy is designed to help managers deal with all kinds of absences, including those which are due to mental ill health. The policy requires managers to keep in touch with staff while they are absent, and conduct welcome back discussions on their return to work. It also provides guidance to managers on how to spot symptoms of possible mental ill health and how to consider what adjustments might be necessary in order to support the member of staff in doing their job. Adjustments might include changes to the job role or duties, a change of job, additional support or considering part time working or use of the flexible working hours arrangements. The Department's Occupational Health Contractor (Atos Origin) provides advice on reasonable adjustments and the impact the medical condition may have on the member of staff's ability to work effectively.
	The Department also has an Employee Assistance service provided by Right Corecare which provides counselling and support to staff on a range of issues including stress (whether at work or at home) and health. Corecare can also advise and support managers who have staff who are experiencing mental ill health. In addition, DWP introduced a Well-being at work policy in September 2004 in order to prevent, identify and address the causes of work-related stress. The policy is based on the HSE Management Standards and aims to assess stress at both an organisational and individual level.

Departmental Staff

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to improve the security of the (a) payroll and (b) other personal data relating to staff of his Department.

Anne McGuire: DWP has robust policies and systems in place that deal with data protection and the security of payroll and other personal data relating to its staff. These are subject to rigorous managerial checks and regular internal and external auditing. In the light of recent events we have reviewed all our processes and security arrangements.
	Where recommendations are made for improvements these are taken seriously and acted upon.

Departmental Staff

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants in his Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: There are currently six DWP employees who are contracted as home workers. However, DWP employees may make ad-hoc arrangements to work from home for a variety of reasons, for example, to complete performance appraisal reports; to complete reports of home visits carried out; as reasonable adjustments for disabled employees; to avoid travel disruption during industrial action on public transport.
	Managers also have discretion to authorise employees to work from home for domestic reasons that may otherwise have required their absence from duty.
	Statistical data have never been collected about ad-hoc home working arrangements, which are treated the same as any other absence from the normal work place on official duties.
	Because no official records are kept, and none are required to be kept by individuals, any data that may be gathered could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to assess the morale of departmental staff.

Anne McGuire: The DWP carries out a departmental staff survey annually, inviting all staff to say how they feel about a comprehensive range of issues affecting their working lives. This includes indicators that allow staff morale to be assessed.
	Because morale is a multi-faceted issue, DWP uses its survey to collect data on a range of issues to gain a reliable assessment, rather than rely on a single indicator, such as staff satisfaction. Over time, it has developed a more informed view of what drives staff morale and incorporated these factors into the survey questionnaire. These include areas such as how people feel about their job, the support they get from colleagues and managers, opportunities to develop skills and pursue a career, their confidence in handling challenging aspects of their job, terms and conditions and how they perceive the culture of the organisation.
	The DWP has also adopted the Health and Safety Executive's Management Standards model as the basis of its Well-being at Work policy to measure and help manage pressures and demands in the workplace; to minimise the risks of stress; and to continually assess the levels of pressure placed on its people.
	The fourth DWP survey was completed in October 2005. In addition to the centralised DWP survey, business areas and teams carry out smaller scale reviews which include consideration of staff attitudes connected to Investors in People, Excellence or performance improvement initiatives locally.

Disability Rights Commission

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total budget was of the Disability Rights Commission in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; how much funding the Commission received to support its work with public bodies to promote equality for disabled people in each year; and how much it will receive in 2006–07 for that work.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 25 January 2006
	Grant-in-aid paid to the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) in 2004–05 was £16.597 million and its grant in aid allocation for 2005–06 is £21.641 million. These figures reflect the expansion of the DRC's remit as a result of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005 which includes the Disability Equality Duty. The figures include some £0.9 million in 2004–05 and some £4.7 million in 2005–06 for work deriving from the DDA 2005. My Department's planning assumption is that the Commission's grant-in-aid for 2006–07 will be £20.902 million to cover all its work including that in respect of the DDA 2005.
	The actual amount of resource which the Commission allocates to its work with public bodies in relation to the duty to promote equality for disabled people is an operational matter for decision by the DRC in the light of its statutory duties.

Disabled People (Life Chances)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to publish the next annual progress report on the objectives set out in Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People.

Anne McGuire: The Office for Disability Issues will report annually to the Prime Minister on cross-government progress in implementing the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report, Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People. The first report is due to be published in summer 2006.

Energy Review

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the source was of the funds earmarked by the Health and Safety Executive to pay for the comparative risk review of energy sources commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry in January as part of the Energy Review; and whether he expects the Health and Safety Executive to apply cost recovery in respect of the Nuclear Reactor Safety Review to be conducted as part of the review.

Anne McGuire: The Department of Trade and Industry has asked the Health and Safety Executive for an expert report on health and safety risks arising from recent and potential energy developments and HSE's approach to ensuring that these risks are sensibly managed by industry. The report will not seek to compare the risks of different energy sources. The cost of producing the report is expected to be small and will be met from existing resources by reprioritising other work. HSE does not intend to recover any of this cost from nuclear site licensees.

Health and Safety

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he has taken in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive to respond to the four high level themes identified in the Government's strategy for workplace health and safety.

Anne McGuire: As the sponsoring Department for the HSC/E, DWP Ministers are very supportive of the workplace strategy and its themes, and committed to working with the Commission and Executive to facilitate delivery of our targets for health and safety improvement. The strategy has four themes designed to encourage good practice and increase understanding of health and safety requirements: partnership working; effective health and safety management; focusing on our core business and the right interventions; and communicating effectively. A report on the first year of the strategy was published in March 2005 and a report of the second year is due towards the end of March.
	There are several examples of partnership working being successfully employed. The Health, Work and Well Being strategy, HSE's Stress Management standards and the soon to be launched Workplace Health Connect have all benefited from partnership working across a wide range of stakeholders. These initiatives will help to deliver HSE's occupational health targets and will also contribute to the Government's wider health agenda.
	HSE has developed two specific programmes of work to help others benefit from effective health and safety management. The Business Involvement Strategic Enabling Programme promotes effective health and safety management as an integral part of effective business management. HSE has published relevant case studies to help demonstrate this. The Worker Involvement Strategic Enabling Programme encourages more and better worker involvement in sensible health and safety risk management. The Worker Safety Adviser Challenge fund targeting those workers—particularly in small organisations—that do not have access to trade union safety representatives, made £3 million available to partnerships who could demonstrate innovative ways for getting workers and managers to solve health and safety issues together.
	HSE has also been concentrating on their core work and being clear about their priorities—risk and poor performers. They have consulted publicly on the role they should play in protecting the public, rather than just workers, from work-related risks. The consultation was designed to promote and ensure a coherent overall approach to public safety, with greater clarity of responsibilities for the many agencies involved in protecting the public. The consultation has now closed and HSE will be publishing their findings shortly. HSE have also consulted on how they and local authorities can make best use of their resources to deliver health and safety improvements. This culminated in an account of the regulatory methods they employ, why they intervene and what they aim to achieve with each intervention.
	Over the last two years, all of this good work has been underpinned by strong HSE communications. This has been evident in their Backs 2005 campaign where they have successfully raised the profile of back pain as a major contributor to work-related ill health and the sensible risk debate they have been running since last summer where they have emphasised the key message of managing risks sensibly, not completely eliminating them. HSE continues to provide authoritative health and safety information using its website as the main point of contact. Since 2002 they have seen a three-fold increase in traffic on their website.

Health and Safety

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action his Department is taking in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive (a) to improve liaison on and (b) to foster sharing of good practice in health and safety regulation with local authorities.

Anne McGuire: Local authorities (LAs) have responsibility for health and safety both as employers (dutyholders) and also as enforcing authorities, in the latter case mainly for health and safety regulation of the service industries.
	As employers:
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has established a Local Authority Forum, which has representatives from the Local Government Associations (LGAs) in England, Scotland and Wales and from trade unions, where debate and discussion takes place about health and safety issues in LAs, including examples of good practice.
	At a regional level regular contact is made with LA Chief Executives, either directly or through the Chief Executive local liaison groups, to discuss issues around the Health and Safety Commission's priorities and to share good practice.
	As enforcing authorities:
	HSE has been developing partnership arrangements with LAs through work on the 'LAs and HSE Working Together strategic programme'. A Statement of Intent, agreed by HSC/HSE and each of the LGAs in England, Scotland and Wales has set out the principles of such partnership working.
	LGA representatives at both officer and elected member level form part of the governance of the partnership arrangements and are involved at the earliest stages in developing policy and delivery around the HSC health and safety priorities. LGA representatives are also involved in the governance of all the HSE strategic programmes.
	Regional partnership structures are in place, which allow for joint planning and delivery by both HSE field staff and LA enforcement officers—there are many examples of such joint working around the country.
	In May 2005 a 'Good Practice Guide' was launched to share examples of good practice between LAs and between HSE and LAs. This has been supplemented by the creation of a web base 'Extranet' that all LAs can access for information held by HSE on its intranet but also as a means of logging and sharing good practice.
	Lord Hunt met with CEO of the LGA in October last year and subsequently met with the chair of the LGA and other key members, on 16 January. Further liaison meetings are planned.

HIV

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines his Department has produced to assist employers in developing good practice concerning the employment of people with HIV.

Anne McGuire: My Department undertakes a wide range of publicity activity to raise awareness of employers' responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005. A series of recent campaigns has focused on the duties of employers and service providers. In particular, a major campaign aimed at small and medium-sized businesses was undertaken during 2004, involving direct mailings to over one million businesses. In the last financial year alone, around £3 million was spent on raising awareness of the Act.
	A new campaign, also aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, started in December 2005 and will run to May 2006. In this campaign, we are working closely with business, trade organisations and third parties such as accountants, as our research shows that small businesses are turning more and more to these sources of advice for information about legislation that affects their business.
	We are also working closely with key stakeholders, including organisations like the National Aids Trust and Ensuring Positive Futures", to communicate messages about changes made by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. Our aim is to help ensure that employers, and employees, are aware that, for the purposes of the DDA, a person with HIV infection is treated as a disabled person from the point at which they have the infection, effectively from the point of diagnosis. Therefore, they have a legal right to be treated fairly, and to have reasonable adjustments made to accommodate them, in the workplace.
	The Department's awareness raising activity complements that of the Disability Rights Commission, which is sponsored by my Department. The Commission has a statutory duty to provide advice and guidance on rights and responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act. It publishes codes of practice and a range of guidance on the employment duties under the Act. These include examples relating to people who are infected with HIV.

Incapacity Benefit

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants left incapacity benefit at the (a) four month and (b) 12 month stage of their claim in each quarter since January 2003 in (i) pathways to work pilot areas and (ii) non-pathways areas.

Margaret Hodge: Pathways to work pilots were introduced in October 2003. The available figures are in the tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in Pathways areas, by duration of claim
		
			  All durations Up to 4 months Over 4 up to 12 months Over 12 months 
		
		
			 February 2003 16,000 5,200 4,200 6,700 
			 May 2003 14,600 5,000 4,000 5,500 
			 August 2003 16,400 4,900 4,600 6,800 
			 November 2003 16,100 5,100 4,300 6,700 
			 February 2004 16,300 5,500 4,100 6,800 
			 May 2004 17,900 6,100 4,300 7,500 
			 August 2004 17,900 5,700 4,500 7,700 
			 November 2004 16,400 5,300 3,900 7,200 
			 February 2005 16,600 5,200 3,600 7,800 
			 May 2005 15,900 5,400 3,700 6,800 
			 August 2005 11,400 3,900 2,400 5,100 
		
	
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) terminations in non-Pathways areas, by duration of claim
		
			  All durations Up to 4 months Over 4 up to 12 months Over 12 months 
		
		
			 February 2003 154,200 48,900 40,000 65,400 
			 May 2003 151,300 50,000 43,400 57,900 
			 August 2003 166,600 50,600 42,700 73,300 
			 November 2003 170,700 52,800 43,700 74,300 
			 February 2004 156,400 45,500 42,400 68,500 
			 May 2004 156,600 44,500 42,100 70,100 
			 August 2004 159,300 42,600 44,500 72,100 
			 November 2004 159,300 45,600 44,500 69,200 
			 February 2005 160,400 42,300 43,700 74,300 
			 May 2005 164,000 43,700 43,900 76,500 
			 August 2005 111,100 32,400 30,700 48,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major changes in future quarters.
	3. Earlier quarters have been updated to include late notified terminations, including terminations for State Pension.
	4. Pathways to work pilot areas were introduced in October 2003 and expanded in April 2004.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Samples.

Incapacity Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances a person may receive incapacity benefit without having passed the personal capability assessment; how many such people there were in each of the last three years; and what the procedure is for the withdrawal of benefits from people deemed fit for work.

Anne McGuire: Claims to incapacity benefit are initially paid on the basis of supporting medical evidence until such time as the Own Occupation Test or the Personal Capacity Assessment is carried out. People with certain severe medical conditions and those in receipt of the highest rate care component of disability living allowance are exempt from the Personal Capability Assessment.
	The Personal Capability Assessment is usually carried out after a person has been incapable of work for 28 weeks. If they do not meet the threshold of incapacity, their benefit stops, form IB65 is issued which gives details of the decision, and entitlement to incapacity benefit ceases from the next available payment date. No one can continue to receive incapacity benefit if they fail to satisfy the Personal Capability Assessment.
	Form IB65 gives details of the disallowance and the scoring applied, and is accompanied by a notes section on what to do next and leaflet IB203 Incapacity Benefit Getting Back to Work".

Incapacity Benefit

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who will decide under the proposed legislation which claimants will have their incapacity benefits withdrawn; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Our proposals are about extending opportunity, not cutting benefits. Where a sanction on an individual's benefit is considered necessary, we have yet to determine the exact process and indeed will only do so following extensive consultation. However, the checks and balances we have in place in our successful Pathways to Work pilots have proven to be reliable and provide a good starting point.
	Our experience in the Pathways to Work pilots is that, because many claimants wish to return to work, the number of occasions when it was necessary to apply a sanction were small.

Incapacity Benefit

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with employers on his proposals to reform incapacity benefit, with particular reference to extending employment opportunities.

Margaret Hodge: The Government acknowledge that working with employers to expand employment opportunity is crucial for getting incapacity benefit claimants into work, and have recognised this in both Health, Work and Well-Being" and the recent Green Paper A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work".
	Each of the Pathways to Work Pilots has developed an Employer Engagement Strategy to establish a closer business relationship with employers to both influence their recruitment practice and to ensure that the support services understand employers' recruitment needs.
	We now look forward to the participation of employers in the formal consultation on the Green Paper, which will be run until 21 April 2006.

Incapacity Benefit

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what use is made of occupational psychology in reducing the number of people claiming incapacity benefit.

Margaret Hodge: Occupational psychology and consultation with occupational psychologists have been used in the design, staff training and delivery of services that help people claiming incapacity benefit return to employment.
	For example, occupational psychologists were part of the team that designed the training for Jobcentre Plus staff involved in our successful Pathways to Work programme (the recently published green paper, A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering people to work Cm 6730, gives more detail about Pathways to Work). Also in Jobcentre Plus, incapacity benefit personal advisers and disability employment advisers are able to refer people to occupational psychologists where there is a need for the types of specialist assistance that those psychologists can provide.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average payment of incapacity benefit was in each year since 1995.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the table.
	
		Average weekly amount of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance in payment; Great Britain
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 August 1995 76.79 
			 August 1996 76.44 
			 August 1997 75.62 
			 August 1998 76.49 
			 August 1999 77.04 
			 August 2000 76.32 
			 August 2001 77.42 
			 August 2002 78.12 
			 August 2003 78.56 
			 August 2004 79.79 
			 August 2005 81.59 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Amount in payment is average of all incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance beneficiaries, and excludes incapacity benefit credits-only cases.
	2. All amounts are in nominal terms.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples.

Incapacity Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of incapacity benefit there were in each social services authority (a) in 2001 and (b) in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested. The information for local authorities in Great Britain has been placed in the Library.

Income Support

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received (a) income support on the grounds of incapacity, (b) income support disability premium, (c) income support enhanced disability premium and (d) income support severe disability premium in each year since 1995.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		Income support (IS) paid for incapacity and disability, by type of disability premium in Great Britain
		
			 August IS and IB/SDA, no DP IS with DP only IS with DP and EDP IS with DP and SDP IS with DP and EDP and SDP 
		
		
			 1995(41) 244,100 666,800 n/a 63,200 n/a 
			 1996(41) 251,000 720,400 n/a 78,200 n/a 
			 1997 272,600 765,400 n/a 93,900 n/a 
			 1998 229,600 809,500 n/a 103,400 n/a 
			 1999 230,100 829,100 n/a 115,100 n/a 
			 2000 228,500 872,200 n/a 126,200 n/a 
			 2001 223,400 838,500 77,400 92,600 48,800 
			 2002 186,900 873,200 77,200 103,800 54,100 
			 2003 184,200 868,800 81,900 114,700 60,700 
			 2004 159,000 865,100 83,100 124,900 66,500 
			 2005 146,300 837,800 80,800 128,300 68,600 
		
	
	n/a=not applicable.
	(41) Figures for 1995 and 1996 exclude the unemployed—income-based JSA replaced IS for the unemployed in October 1996.
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been derived by applying 5 per cent. proportions to 100 per cent. totals with the exception of August 2005 which has been taken directly from the DWP Work and Pension Longitudinal Study.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	3. Figures exclude minimum income guarantee (MIG)—pension credit replaced MIG on 6 October 2003.
	4. Enhanced disability premium was introduced in April 2001.
	5. DP=disability premium; EDP=enhanced disability premium; SDP=severe disability premium.
	6. Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) 'claimant' figures include IB credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) and Information Directorate 5 per cent. samples.

IT Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is on depreciation of IT equipment.

Anne McGuire: Depreciation is provided on IT equipment, using the straight-line method, at rates calculated to write off, in equal instalments, the current replacement cost of each asset over its expected useful life, in this case five years. The assets are depreciated from the month following acquisition. No depreciation is charged in the month of disposal.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Anne McGuire: My Department publishes an annual religious calendar for all staff on its intranet site. The calendar includes information on all the major religions, including Judaism, and provides dates and background to all the key religious festivals and events. We take into consideration the religious festivals and events when arranging interviews with our customers.
	My Department allows all staff to:
	request time off work to celebrate any religious festival;
	take time away from desks during the working day if individuals need access to designated areas in order to pray;
	apply for an advance of salary for any religious festival.
	My Department delivers faith awareness training for our staff via a learning and development toolkit, which provides information on religious beliefs, observances and practices.

Jobcentres

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether further reductions in numbers of jobs for jobcentre workers in West Dumbartonshire are planned.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether further reductions in numbers of jobs for jobcentre workers in West Dunbartonshire are planned. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	As announced in the 2004 Spending Review, the Department has plans to reduce overall staff numbers by 30,000 by 31 March 2008. Our staffing plans for West Dunbartonshire take account of the challenging headcount targets Jobcentre Plus has to meet annually up to 2008 as part of the wider DWP Efficiency Challenge.
	By way of background, Jobcentre Plus had 223.8 full time equivalent staff in West Dunbartonshire at the end of April 2005. The latest available month end figure, for December 2005, was 226.2 full time equivalent staff. Just over 13 per cent. of staff included in the December figure are employed on temporary contracts.
	The budget allocation for 2006/07 for our Highland, Islands, Clyde Coast & Grampian District, which includes West Dunbartonshire, has yet to be finalised. At the moment, planning assumptions are, however, that staffing in West Dunbartonshire will reduce by approximately 5 per cent. by the end of 2006/07.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether the amount of jobseekers' allowance to which 16-year-olds are entitled varies between regions;
	(2)  what unemployment benefit is available to people aged 16.

James Plaskitt: Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) is intended for those people seeking work. 16-year-olds are not normally entitled to JSA, as the policy intention is to encourage young people of that age to be in education or training rather than become dependent on the benefits system.
	However, as a safety net for the most vulnerable, income based JSA may be paid for a limited period in certain circumstances while a young person looks for suitable training, education or employment that involves training. JSA rates, payable in such cases, are prescribed nationally and are not subject to regional variations.

Language Support

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the departmental target is for the time taken to process a benefit application when a customer requires language support or documentation from other Government Departments; and how many days applications took in the last period for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 13 February 2006
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question asking what the departmental target is for the time taken to process a benefit application when a customer requires language support or documentation from other Government departments; and how many days applications took in the last period for which figures are available. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus does not have a separate target for the processing of benefit claims that involve language support or documentation from other Government Departments.

Lone Parents

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in helping lone parents back to work in the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: Considerable progress has been made in helping lone parents back into work in the last three years. The lone parent employment rate rose 3.3 percentage points between spring 2002 and spring 2005, and, since it started in 1998, new deal for lone parents has been successful in helping more than 423,000 lone parents into work, 230,810 of whom have gone into work through the programme in the last three years.
	In October, we introduced a requirement for lone parents whose youngest child is aged at least 14 to participate in quarterly work focused interviews. We are also piloting a number of measures to help lone parents, including the new deal plus for lone parents, which is testing whether a range of additional support will help lone parents to find and to stay in work.
	In our recently published Green Paper 'A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work', we have proposed increased contact with lone parents through more frequent work focused interviews, as well as the intention to pilot a work-related activity premium to encourage lone parents with older children to take serious steps to return to work.

Lone Parents

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents moved from income support to incapacity benefit when their youngest child reached age 16 in the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The information is not available in the format requested; the available information is in the table.
	
		
			 Time period during which the customer left income support Number of lone parents leaving income support within three months of their youngest child turning 16 Number of those claiming incapacity benefit (IB) within 12 months Proportion that claimed IB within 12 months of leaving IS (percentage) 
		
		
			 August 1999-July 2000 12,000 2,000 16.4 
			 August 2000-July 2001 13,500 2,100 15.9 
			 August 2001-July 2002 12,800 2,000 16.0 
			 August 2002-July 2003 12,500 2,100 17.2 
			 August 2003-July 2004 11,400 2,100 18.6 
		
	
	Note:
	1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. The actual figures have been used to calculate the percentages.
	Source:
	DWP 100 per cent. benefits database (data to July 2005).

Lone Parents

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents whose youngest child is aged between 11 and 16 years are caring for a child who is sick or disabled in (a) Coventry, South and (b) the West Midlands region.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested. Figures are only available for those receiving income support.
	As at August 2005, there were 1,600 lone parents in receipt of income support in the West Midlands, whose youngest child was aged between 11 and 16 years, and whose benefit included a disabled child premium.
	Due to the very small numbers of claimants involved it is not possible to accurately estimate the number of such claimants in the Coventry, South parliamentary constituency.

Lone Parents

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents whose youngest child is 14 years had received benefits for more than a year in Coventry, South in the last year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested.
	As at August 2005, there were 100 lone parents whose youngest child is 14 who had been in receipt of income support for a year or more in the Coventry, South parliamentary constituency. The number of such claimants in receipt of other benefits is too small to provide accurate estimates.

MPs (Outside Appointments)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 who have since been appointed to public bodies by his Department, broken down by party; and who was responsible for making each appointment.

Anne McGuire: Information about the political activity of appointees is recorded and publicised in accordance with the independent Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice. This shows that no former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 have since been appointed to public bodies sponsored by this Department.

New Deal

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of New Deal leavers in Beverley and Holderness have gained sustained unsubsidised employment.

Margaret Hodge: The available information is in the table.
	
		New Deal in Beverley and Holderness—percentage of leavers to a sustained unsubsidised job
		
			 Programme Percentage 
		
		
			 New Deal for Young People 56 
			 New Deal 25 plus 29 
			 New Deal for Lone Parents 30 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A measure of job sustainability is not available for new deal 50 plus and new deal for partners.
	2. Information on new deal for disabled people is not available at constituency level.
	3. For the purposes of new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus, a job is regarded as sustained if a person gaining a job through these new deals does not claim jobseeker's allowance for at least 13 weeks after gaining employment.
	4. Since October 2005, employment sustainability for those participating on new deal for lone parents, which is a voluntary programme, has been measured through the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. If a job gained through the programme lasts at least 13 weeks, it is regarded as sustained. A measure of sustainability was not available prior to October 2005.
	5. Figures are to August 2005.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate.

New Deal

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) over 25s, (b) lone parents, (c) over 50s and (d) young people in Peterborough have participated in the New Deal in each year since its inception.

Margaret Hodge: The available information is in the table.
	
		Participants on New Deal in Peterborough since 1998
		
			  New Deal 25 plus New Deal for Lone Parents New Deal 50 plus New Deal for Young People 
		
		
			 1998 100 20 — 380 
			 1999 180 190 — 400 
			 2000 170 160 — 390 
			 2001 170 200 — 350 
			 2002 180 240 — 400 
			 2003 140 270 — 400 
			 2004 160 340 10 340 
			 2005 150 340 50 330 
		
	
	Note:
	1. New Deal 25 plus started in July 1998.
	2. New Deal for Lone Parents started in October 1998.
	3. Starts to the New Deal 50 Plus programme are only available from January 2004.
	4. New Deal for Young People started in January 1998.
	5. All data is up to the end of November 2005 and is rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate.

Pathways to Work

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many professionals are involved in condition management programmes in each of the Pathways to Work pilots, broken down by profession; what the annual cost of the work of healthcare professionals has been in each pilot; how many people in each pilot have been receiving incapacity benefit for (a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months and (c) 12 months or longer; and what assessment he has made of the implications for the number of healthcare workers needed if Pathways to Work is extended to all areas.

Margaret Hodge: Condition management programmes (CMPs) are jointly delivered by Jobcentre Plus and the NHS. Actual spend figures for the provision of services via health care professionals are not available. The funding agreed between individual districts and primary care trusts (PCTs) is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 District 2004–05 (£) 2005–06 (£) 
		
		
			 Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Bute 1,526,079 1,845,027 
			 Bridgend, Rhondda, Cynon and Taff 767,979 1,209,800 
			 Derbyshire 1,380,000 1,921,621 
			 Essex 2,126,516 3,029,072 
			 Gateshead 929,260 1,267,528 
			 East Lancashire 504,627 1,215,946 
			 Somerset 640,500 870,515 
		
	
	Information on how many people in each pilot have been receiving incapacity benefit for (a) less than six months (b) between six months and 12 months and (c) 12 months or longer, is in the following table.
	
		IB/SDA Claimaints in Pathways to Work areas, by duration May 2005
		
			 District Less than 6 months 6 months to 1 year 1 year or over Total 
		
		
			 Renfrewshire, Inverclyde,  Argyll and Bute 2.5 1.6 22.5 26.6 
			 Bridgend, Rhondda,  Cynon and Taff 2.7 1.8 30.0 34.5 
			 Derbyshire 3.9 2.7 39.7 46.3 
			 Essex 5.8 3.7 47.0 56.5 
			 Gateshead 2.3 1.4 21.0 24.7 
			 East Lancashire 3.2 2.1 29.0 34.2 
			 Somerset 1.4 1.0 12.4 14.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are shown in thousands and rounded to the nearest 100.
	2. Pathways to Work areas are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, 100 per cent. data.
	Delivery is not standardised in the pilot areas. The services within the CMPs are provided by a range of healthcare professionals, including: occupational therapists, mental health practitioners, GPs, physiotherapists, speech therapists, health psychologists, and nurses. The number and type of healthcare professionals varies between each pilot and is set locally.
	We will continue to work with the NHS to deliver this vital element of our Pathways to Work initiative. We will also seek to ensure our proposals deliver the pilots in innovative and more cost-effective ways as we roll out to the rest of the country. We have set out our proposals in the Green Paper A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work" (Cm 6730) published on 24 January 2006.

Pathways to Work

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many general practitioner surgeries are participating in the Pathways to Work pilots; and in how many of them employment advisers have been placed.

Margaret Hodge: As part of the Pathways to Work approach Jobcentre Plus has been working closely with a wide range of NHS professionals in surgeries and other health settings to promote the health and employment message. Many non-governmental organisations have already placed employment advisers in general practitioner surgeries across the country and our proposals came from this experience.
	We want to build on the knowledge gained from these experiments and will be running pilots in five of the seven current Pathways to Work Pilot areas, where we will place employment advisers in general practitioner surgeries. We do not have information at this stage on the number of advisers we will place. However, two surgeries in the pilot areas are already using the services of employment advisers.
	The lessons learned from these pilots will help to ensure the success of our proposals recently published in our Green Paper; A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work" to place an Employment Adviser service in GPs' surgeries.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to switch from current occupational or private pension schemes into the proposed National Pension Savings Scheme, if it is implemented.

Stephen Timms: The Government is in the process of examining the recommendations made by the Pensions Commission in detail. This includes recommendations on a National Pension Savings Scheme. At this stage, nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out. In looking at options we will of course take account of the possible impacts on existing schemes.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission research into the likely impact on economic growth in the UK of the national pension savings scheme proposed in the Pensions Commission's second report.

Stephen Timms: The Government are in the process of examining the recommendations made by the Pensions Commission in detail. At this stage, nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out. We will give careful consideration to the need for additional research into the likely impact of the NPSS on economic growth in the UK.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the persistency levels for (a) regular premium personal pensions and (b) group and individual personal pensions was in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Timms: Such information as is available is contained in an annual survey on persistency of life and pension policies produced and published by the Financial Services Authorities (FSA). The latest publication is the 2004 survey and it can be found on the FSA's website at:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/other/Persistency_2004.pdf

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission research into the likely levels of persistency if a national pension savings scheme were to be established as proposed in the Pensions Commission Report.

Stephen Timms: The Government are in the process of examining the recommendations made by the Pensions Commission in detail. At this stage, nothing is ruled in and nothing is ruled out. As part of this process we will be giving careful consideration to the need for additional research into the likely levels of persistency if the NPSS were to be established.

Pensions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce legislation requiring companies who have taken a pensions contribution holiday since 1997 to make the payments not made.

Stephen Timms: We have no plans to do so. The level of contributions paid by the sponsoring employer of a private sector defined benefit pension scheme is determined and reviewed under the rules of the scheme, subject to overriding legislation. From April 1997 schemes were required to be funded above the level of the minimum funding requirement (MFR) before the sponsoring employer could take a contribution holiday.
	New scheme funding requirements, replacing the MFR, came into force from 30 December 2005. Pension scheme trustees now have greater powers to frame their scheme's funding strategy and determine the appropriate level of contributions payable by the employer.
	In addition, from 6 April 2006 current HM Revenue and Customs requirements for pension schemes to reduce an actuarial surplus will be abolished. This will remove a factor which may have played a part in some decisions to allow pension fund contribution holidays in the past. Under the revised requirements sponsoring employers will still be able to take a contribution holiday where the scheme is sufficiently well-funded, but only where the trustees agree that it is appropriate.

Perceived Disability

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend existing Disability Discrimination Acts to protect groups and individuals from discrimination on the basis of perceived disability in addition to actual disability.

Anne McGuire: The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 significantly extended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in a number of important areas. It fulfilled the Government's commitment to put in place a comprehensive and enforceable package of civil rights for disabled people. We have no current plans to make any additional amendments to this legislation.

Post Office Card Accounts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which areas have been selected as pilots for the replacement of the Post Office card account.

James Plaskitt: DWP is not undertaking any pilots of a replacement" for the Post Office card account. Rather we are undertaking some small-scale pilots to test various approaches to moving people from having their benefit or pension paid into a Post Office card account to payments into a bank account.
	The three DWP pilot schemes will involve:
	(a) Not promoting the option for some customers to open a Post Office card account when they make a new claim to benefit. The pilots will cover a small number of customers making a new claim to jobseeker's allowance in three Jobcentre Plus Offices in the North East of England and a small number of customers claiming retirement pension or pension credit nationwide.
	(b) Writing to some existing Post Office card accounts customers asking for bank account details. This will be a random sample of customers in England and Wales.
	(c) Converting some customers who have one benefit paid by Post Office card account and another already paid into a bank account. This will be a random sample of customers in England and Scotland.

Post Office Card Accounts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people use the Post Office card account for the payment of benefits and pensions, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information showing the number of DWP benefit and pension payment accounts paid by direct payment into a Post Office card account for each parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library.

Post Office Card Accounts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what alternatives to the Post Office card account he plans; and what income streams will be received by the Post Office as a result.

James Plaskitt: It will be for Post Office Ltd. to bring forward proposals for new products and services, and I understand they currently have some under development. There are already some 25 bank and building society accounts which can be used at post offices, with each transaction at the post office generating income for Post Office Ltd. We want to work with the post office to ensure customers are fully aware of developments and continue to have a range of choices in how they access their money.

Post Office Card Accounts

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are using the Post Office card account to withdraw their benefits and pensions; and how many people the Government estimate will be using the Post Office card account by the end of (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.

James Plaskitt: There were 4.27 million Post Office card accounts in use at December 2005.
	We would expect this number to decline over time as customers move on to other accounts which offer more features. However, we have made no estimates of the precise volumes at specific points in time.

Poverty

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the relationship between disability and poverty; and how many disabled people his Department defined as poor in (a) the UK and (b) Stroud constituency in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2003/04", available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The data source does not allow us to provide robust estimates below regional level.

Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) disabled people, (c) couples, (d) single people and (e) children living in (i) absolute poverty and (ii) relative poverty in each year since 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: We are making sustained progress against poverty—41 of our 60 indicators now show an improving trend over time, compared with 35 last year. There are fewer children living in relative, absolute and persistent poverty (700,000 fewer children in relative low income than in 1997); there are fewer children in workless households (400,000 fewer than in 1997); there are fewer older people fewer living in relative, absolute and persistent poverty (700,000 fewer people of state pension age in relative low income and 2 million fewer in absolute low income compared with 1997) and for those living in deprived communities there have been improvements in employment, education and housing.
	The information requested is in the tables.
	
		Absolute numbers of disabled adults and children with incomes below 60 per cent. median AHC -- Million
		
			  Children Adults 
		
		
			 1996–97 0.3 2.4 
			 1997-/98 0.3 2.5 
			 1998-/99 0.3 2.5 
			 1999–2000 0.2 2.2 
			 2000–01 0.2 2.0 
			 2001–02 0.1 1.7 
			 2002–03 0.1 1.5 
			 2003–04 0.1 1.4 
		
	
	
		Absolute numbers of disabled adults and children with incomes below 60 per cent. median BHC -- Million
		
			  Children Adults 
		
		
			 1996–97 0.2 1.7 
			 1997–98 0.2 1.8 
			 1998–99 0.2 1.9 
			 1999–2000 0.1 1.6 
			 2000–01 0.1 1.6 
			 2001–02 0.1 1.3 
			 2002–03 0.1 1.2 
			 2003–04 0.1 1.1 
		
	
	
		Relative numbers of disabled adults and children with incomes below 60 per cent. median AHC -- Million
		
			  Children Adults 
		
		
			 1996–97 0.3 2.4 
			 1997–98 0.3 2.6 
			 1998–99 0.3 2.7 
			 1999–2000 0.2 2.6 
			 2000–01 0.3 2.7 
			 2001–02 0.2 2.6 
			 2002–03 0.2 2.5 
			 2003–04 0.2 2.3 
		
	
	
		Relative numbers of disabled adults and children with incomes below 60 per cent. median BHC -- Million
		
			  Children Adults 
		
		
			 1996–97 0.2 1.7 
			 1997–98 0.2 1.9 
			 1998–99 0.2 2.1 
			 1999–2000 0.2 2.0 
			 2000–01 0.2 2.1 
			 2001–02 0.1 2.1 
			 2002–03 0.2 2.1 
			 2003–04 0.1 2.0 
		
	
	
		Absolute numbers of couples and singles with incomes below 60 per cent. median AHC -- Million
		
			  Singles Couples 
		
		
			 1996–97 4.7 2.4 
			 1997–98 4.3 2.3 
			 1998–99 4.1 2.2 
			 1999–2000 3.8 2.0 
			 2000–01 3.2 1.8 
			 2001–02 2.8 1.5 
			 2002–03 2.6 1.4 
			 2003–04 2.6 1.4 
		
	
	
		Absolute numbers of couples and singles with incomes below 60 per cent. median BHC -- Million
		
			  Singles Couples 
		
		
			 1996–97 3.0 2.0 
			 1997–98 2.9 1.9 
			 1998–99 2.7 1.9 
			 1999–2000 2.5 1.7 
			 2000–01 2.4 1.5 
			 2001–02 2.1 1.3 
			 2002–03 1.2 1.2 
			 2003–04 1.9 1.2 
		
	
	
		Relative numbers of couples and singles with incomes below 60 per cent. median AHC -- Million
		
			  Singles Couples 
		
		
			 1996–97 4.7 2.4 
			 1997–98 4.4 2.4 
			 1998–99 4.4 2.3 
			 1999–2000 4.5 2.3 
			 2000–01 4.2 2.3 
			 2001–02 4.0 2.3 
			 2002–03 4.0 2.3 
			 2003–04 3.9 2.3 
		
	
	
		Relative numbers of couples and singles with incomes below 60 per cent. median BHC -- Million
		
			  Singles Couples 
		
		
			 1996–97 3.0 2.0 
			 1997–98 3.0 2.0 
			 1998–99 3.0 2.1 
			 1999–2000 3.1 2.0 
			 2000–01 3.0 1.9 
			 2001–02 3.0 2.0 
			 2002–03 3.1 2.0 
			 2003–04 3.0 2.0 
		
	
	
		Absolute numbers of pensioners with incomes below 60 per cent. median -- Million
		
			  BHC AHC 
		
		
			 1996–97 2.2 2.8 
			 1997–98 2.2 2.6 
			 1998–99 2.1 2.4 
			 1999–2000 1.9 2.0 
			 2000–01 1.6 1.6 
			 2001–02 1.5 1.2 
			 2002–03 1.2 1.0 
			 2003–04 1.1 0.9 
		
	
	
		Relative numbers of pensioners with incomes below 60 per cent. median -- Million
		
			  BHC AHC 
		
		
			 1996–97 2.2 2.8 
			 1997–98 2.3 2.7 
			 1998–99 2.4 2.7 
			 1999–2000 2.3 2.6 
			 2000–01 2.2 2.5 
			 2001–02 2.3 2.3 
			 2002–03 2.3 2.3 
			 2003–04 2.2 2.0 
		
	
	
		Absolute numbers of children with incomes below 60 per cent. median -- Million
		
			  BHC AHC 
		
		
			 1996–97 3.2 4.2 
			 1997–98 3.0 4.0 
			 1998–99 2.8 3.9 
			 1999–2000 2.4 3.6 
			 2000–01 2.0 3.0 
			 2001–02 1.6 2.5 
			 2002–03 1.5 2.2 
			 2003–04 1.4 2.2 
		
	
	
		Relative numbers of children with incomes below 60 per cent. median -- Million
		
			  BHC AHC 
		
		
			 1996–97 3.2 4.2 
			 1997–98 3.1 4.1 
			 1998–99 3.1 4.1 
			 1999–2000 3.0 4.1 
			 2000–01 2.7 3.8 
			 2001–02 2.6 3.7 
			 2002–03 2.6 3.6 
			 2003–04 2.6 3.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey (FRS).

Realising Health and Safety Strategy

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress there has been in meeting targets for major reductions in fatal accidents and severe injuries in each year since the publication of the Realising Health and Safety Strategy in 2000.

Anne McGuire: The information is as follows.
	Progress on fatal and major injuries
	The mid-point 'Revitalising' Health and Safety target (2004–05) for fatal and major injuries is to reduce the incidence rate by 5 per cent. from the base year (1999–2000).
	Since 2000, HSE has concentrated on priority areas in partnership with industry. This has resulted in significant improvements in, for instance, construction and falls from height where targets have been met. This activity has not yet shown through as a clear change to the overall fatal and major injuries rate. HSE continues to prioritise its programmes, focussing on delivering targets.
	The figures for each year are shown in the following table, and further detailed information is available from the HSE website.
	
		Rate of reported fatal and major injuries to employees
		
			  Rate of reported injury (per 100,000 employees) 
			  Fatal injury Major injury Fatal and major injury 
		
		
			 1999–2000 0.7 116.6 117.3 
			 2000–01 0.9 110.2 111.1 
			 2001–02 0.8 110.9 111.7 
			 2002–03 0.7 111.1 111.8 
			 2003–04 0.7 120.4 121.1 
			 2004–05 0.7 117.7 118.4

Retirement Age

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 7, whether it is the case that no one who is (a) a teacher, (b) a national health service employee and (c) in the civil service, and remains so until the age of 60 years, will be required to defer their retirement beyond the age of 60 years.

Stephen Timms: No one, in any occupation, in the private or public sector, can be required to defer their retirement beyond a particular age—individuals always retain the right to retire at a time of their choosing (subject to any compulsory maximum retirement age imposed by the employer).
	I assume that the hon. Gentleman is in fact referring to normal pensionable ages, the age from which an unreduced pension is available.
	Under the agreement on public sector pensions announced last October, a current teacher, NHS employee or civil servant who is already a member of their occupational pension scheme and who does not leave that employment at any subsequent point in their career will retain their existing normal pensionable age of 60. However, the probability is that, of public sector workers aged 20 today 90 per cent. (source: Government Actuary's Department) will not meet this criterion (i.e. they will not remain in the same employment until age 60).

Social Security Fraud

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse resulting from social security fraud in each of the last three years.

James Plaskitt: In recent years, benefit fraud has been reducing and now stands at £0.9 billion per year—less than 1 per cent. of total benefit expenditure.
	The Department produces estimates for the amount overpaid through fraud across the benefits system. Previously published results are in the table.
	
		
			  Estimate of benefit overpaid Comment 
		
		
			 1998–99 to 2002–03 £2 billion per annum Figure rounded to nearest £1.0 billion. 
			 2003–04 revised estimate £1.0 billion Figure rounded to nearest £0.1 billion. Development work to improve the quality of the estimate suggested that the original figure of £1.5 billion was an overstatement. 
			 2004–05 £0.9 billion Figure rounded to nearest £0.1 billion. 
		
	
	The estimates in the table refer to fraudulent payments of benefit. Some overpayments will be subsequently recovered, so the net loss to the public purse will be less than the level of overpayments.
	On 13 October 2005, the Department published our achievements in reducing levels of fraud in the benefit system and plans to reduce it further in 'Reducing fraud in the benefit system: Achievements and ambitions.' Copies are available in the Library.

Stakeholder Pensions

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the lapse rate of stakeholder pension contributors was in each year between 2000 and 2005.

Stephen Timms: This information is not available. Stakeholder pensions are designed to be flexible, with policy holders being permitted to take breaks in contributions without incurring penalty charges. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) publishes a yearly survey on persistency of life and pension policies which has a table on the levels of persistency for stakeholder pensions. The latest publication is the 2004 survey and it can be found on the FSA's website at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/other/Persistency_2004.pdf

Sunbeds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the operation of unstaffed coin-operated sunbed retail outlets.

Anne McGuire: There have been no recent discussions with HSE on the operation of unstaffed coin-operated sunbed retail outlets; no recent concerns have been expressed to HSE regarding serious injuries at such outlets.

Sunbeds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines the Health and Safety Executive has issued to operators of unstaffed coin-operated sunbed tanning salons.

Anne McGuire: Leaflet INDG209, Controlling Health Risks from the use of UV Tanning Equipment applies to the risks from sunbeds generally.
	No guidance has been issued specifically on unstaffed coin-operated tanning salons. However, the guidance in INDG209, including the advice aimed at customers, provides a sensible approach to controlling the risks from using such facilities.

Sunbeds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what inspections of sunbed tanning retail outlets the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertakes; and what period of notice is given by the HSE for such an inspection.

Anne McGuire: HSE is not responsible for the inspection of retail tanning outlets. This is a local authority responsibility. Each local authority decides on the relative priority of such inspections. Many local authorities also require these facilities to be licensed for public health purposes, and a licensing visit will be made on receipt of the necessary application.

Sunbeds

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive has taken enforcement action against companies operating sunbed tanning salons since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: No enforcement action has been taken by HSE against companies operating tanning salons as enforcement responsibility for these premises is allocated to local authorities. HSE only holds voluntary submissions of local authority activity; these records show no enforcement against tanning outlets under health and safety legislation.

Telephone Helplines

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the response rates against targets were for telephone helplines for (a) incapacity benefit, (b) jobseekers allowance and (c) crisis loans in each region in the UK in the last period for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: Jobcentre plus is introducing a new approach to claiming working age benefits, including incapacity benefit and jobseeker's allowance in which customers call a contact centre to make their claim for benefit. This approach is being gradually introduced across the country.
	The information provided in the following table relates only to those areas of the country where the new service has been introduced, and it details the percentage of calls answered by each contact centre during December 2005.
	It is not possible to identify the response rates for calls by region as calls are not necessarily answered by the nearest geographical contact centre to the customer. We also do not hold information on the individual benefits that each call relates to and, therefore, I am unable to provide information on the response rates specifically for incapacity benefit and jobseekers allowance.
	
		
			  Contact centre Region in which the contact centre is based Percentage of calls answered 
		
		
			 Derby East Midlands 95.2 
			 Grimsby Yorkshire and Humber 98.4 
			 Halifax Yorkshire and Humber 93.5 
			 Lincoln East of England 96.7 
			 Lowestoft East of England 96.7 
			 Sheffield Yorkshire and Humber 94.9 
			 Blackburn North West 93.4 
			 Bootle North West 97.2 
			 Coventry West Midlands 93.9 
			 Garston North West 93.9 
			 Marton Mere North West 97.2 
			 Telford West Midlands 94.1 
			 Banbury South East 96.3 
			 Dundee Office for Scotland 93.8 
			 Hastings South East 94.7 
			 Middlesbrough North East 96.5 
			 Newcastle North East 93.0 
			 Paisley Scotland 97.1 
			 Bridgend Office for Wales 88.2 
			 Cwmbran Office for Wales 92.1 
			 Pembroke Dock Office for Wales 93.3 
			 Poole South West 96.3 
			 Taunton South West 87.7 
			 Torquay South West 92.5 
		
	
	Our aim is to answer 90 per cent. of calls. We are aware that two contact centres are not meeting this aim. Measures have been put in place to improve performance, including temporary adjustments to our processes, further recruitment and improved training programmes. These activities have already produced positive results and we are confident that the week-on-week improvements in customer service will continue.
	We do not have a specific target for answering calls to Crisis Loan helplines. Specific information on call response time is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Winter Fuel Payments

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are receiving winter fuel payments in each constituency in Scotland.

Stephen Timms: This winter's figures are not yet available. The table below gives the number of winter fuel payments made in each constituency in Scotland in winter 200405. We expect the numbers to be similar for this winter.
	
		
			 Constituency Payments made 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 10,775 
			 Aberdeen North 12,485 
			 Aberdeen South 15,455 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 13,455 
			 Angus 17,175 
			 Argyll and Bute 15,950 
			 Ayr 17,155 
			 Banff and Buchan 15,430 
			 Caithness Sunderland and Easter Ross 12,015 
			 Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley 18,360 
			 Central Fife 14,810 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 14,185 
			 Clydesdale 16,415 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 12,220 
			 Comhairle nan Eileen Siar 6,345 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 10,490 
			 Cunninghame North 16,810 
			 Cunninghame South 11,850 
			 Dumbarton 14,155 
			 Dumfries 18,810 
			 Dundee East 15,620 
			 Dundee West 13,835 
			 Dunfermline East 13,250 
			 Dunfermline West 12,880 
			 East Kilbride 16,645 
			 East Lothian 16,620 
			 Eastwood 18,465 
			 Edinburgh Central 11,255 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 15,285 
			 Edinburgh North and Leigh 11,750 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 14,690 
			 Edinburgh South 13,990 
			 Edinburgh West 17,670 
			 Falkirk East 14,600 
			 Falkirk West 14,085 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 17,825 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 12,930 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 10,870 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 11,460 
			 Glasgow Govan 9,340 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 9,090 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 10,300 
			 Glasgow Pollok 12,190 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 12,855 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 10,425 
			 Glasgow Springburn 12,200 
			 Gordon 15,095 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 12,710 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 12,160 
			 Hamilton South 10,980 
			 Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber 18,155 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 15,595 
			 Kirkcaldy 14,040 
			 Linlithgow 13,070 
			 Livingston 12,175 
			 Midlothian 12,525 
			 Moray 16,720 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 13,895 
			 North East Fife 16,870 
			 North Tayside 19,715 
			 Ochil 14,285 
			 Orkney and Shetland 8,570 
			 Paisley North 12,130 
			 Paisley South 13,775 
			 Perth 17,700 
			 Ross Skye and Inverness West 15,670 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 14,885 
			 Stirling 14,450 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 17,045 
			 Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale 14,075 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 14,840 
			 West Renfrewshire 12,260 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 100 per cent. sample.

Winter Fuel Payments

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend winter fuel payments to those people who are severely disabled.

Stephen Timms: There are no plans to extend the winter fuel payment scheme to severely disabled people under age 60. Help is already available through disability benefits and the disability premium in income-related benefits in recognition of the extra costs, including heating, which disabled people may have.

Workless Households

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what target he has for reducing (a) the number and (b) the proportion of children in workless households; and what progress has been made against those targets.

Margaret Hodge: As a result of this Government's successful policies and stewardship of the economy there are 700,000 fewer children living in relative low income than in 1997, and 400,000 fewer children in households where no one works.
	The Spending Review 2002 Public Service Agreement (SR02 PSA) target is to reduce the proportion of children in households (CIWH) with no one in work over the three years from spring 2003 to spring 2006 by 6 per cent.
	The Spending Review 2004 Public Service Agreement (SR04 PSA) target is to reduce the proportion of children living in workless households by 5 per cent. between spring 2005 and spring 2008.
	At the beginning of the SR02 PSA target period (spring 2003) the proportion of children living in workless households was approximately 16.1 per cent. (1.8 million). Achieving the SR02 PSA target will require a reduction of 1 percentage point to 15.1 per cent., equivalent to a reduction in the number of CIWH of approximately 150,000 by spring 2006.
	At spring 2005 the proportion of children living in workless households was 15.7 per cent. (1.75 million), representing a reduction of 0.4 percentage points from the baseline. A further reduction of 0.6 percentage points would have to be achieved in 200506 to meet this target.
	The spring 2005 figures form the baseline for the CIWH SR04 PSA. Achieving this target will require a reduction of 0.7 percentage points to 15 per cent. by spring 2008 equivalent to a reduction in the number of CIWH of approximately 128,000 by spring 2006.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Religious Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Home Office has to celebrate religious festivals over the coming 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office has lead responsibility for race equality, diversity and cohesion. At various times throughout the year we celebrate the contribution made by all the main faiths including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh. We are still considering our programme of events for the next 12 months.

Incitement to Violence

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to amend the law relating to incitement to violence.

Charles Clarke: Existing law already makes it an offence to incite murder or other crimes of violence. However, we are strengthening our law by creating a new offence of encouragement to terrorism. This will cover both direct and indirect encouragement and the Government believes it should also encompass glorification of terrorism.

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in establishing a commissioner for victims and witnesses; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The recruitment campaign to appoint a new Commissioner for victims and witnesses was launched on 25 January.
	The Commissioner will build on our recent reforms to the criminal justice system and be an independent voice for victims and witnesses in Government, influencing policy and championing their rights.
	The Commissioner's role will include keeping the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime under review, making recommendations on funding of services to victims and their families via the victims' fund, and ensuring criminal justice system partners work together more effectively to meet the needs of victims and witnesses.
	We aim to announce an appointment in April.

Departmental Accounting

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned to establish whether good accounting practices are followed in his Department.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office is in the process of commissioning a review of the factors that caused the delay to the accounts, an analysis of the current state of financial accounting environment; an assessment of the existing improvement plans; and recommendations for additional steps that need to be taken. This short-focussed review is due to commence in early March and initial conclusions will be reported to the Home Office Audit Committee on 27 March 2006.

Departmental Accounting

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision of the National Audit Office not to sign off his Department's accounts.

Charles Clarke: I am disappointed at the National Audit Office's (NAO) decision. A great deal of work has already been done to put right the problems which arose from the introduction of the new accounting system.
	Although the NAO could not sign off the Home Office resource accounts, they did confirm that no fraudulent payments were made during 200405. Both our systems and financial control frameworks are being strengthened and we are recruiting additional qualified accountants to improve our financial accounting capability.
	I will be appointing a firm of accountants to undertake an urgent review to establish whether any additional steps need to be taken.

Prisons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have taken place in the number of (a) males and (b) females imprisoned since 1991.

Charles Clarke: The number of people imprisoned, which includes those remanded in custody, was 45,626 in 1991 of whom 44,082 were males and 1,544 female. In 2005 there were 76,190 people imprisoned, 71,676 males and 4,514 females.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the drop-out rate for prison officers within two years of recruitment at each prison; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The proportion of prison officers leaving the service within two years of beginning their careers as officers is 11.2 per cent. This figure includes both newly recruited officers and existing Prison Service staff who converted to the officer grade. The nature of the prison officer role means that the Prison Service considers it acceptable that eight out of nine new officers stay in post for more than two years. A breakdown of the drop-out rates within two years of starting, by geographic area is shown in the table. Highest drop out rates are recorded in London and the South East, where more competitive and fluid employment markets operate.
	
		Drop out rates for prison officers between January 2002 and December 2003
		
			   Establishment on joining Number of newly recruited officers and conversions January 2002 to December 2003  Percentage who left within two years 
		
		
			 Acklington 37 2.7 
			 Albany 25 12.0 
			 Ashwell 25 12.0 
			 Askham Grange 10 10.0 
			 Aylesbury 23 13.0 
			 Bedford 16 18.8 
			 Belmarsh 94 9.6 
			 Birmingham 203 11.3 
			 Blakenhurst 63 12.7 
			 Blundeston 14 7.1 
			 Brinsford 29 6.9 
			 Bristol 34 5.9 
			 Brixton 63 22.2 
			 Brockhill 18 22.2 
			 Buckley Hall 18 0.0 
			 Bullingdon 73 27.4 
			 Bullwood Hall 13 30.8 
			 Camp Hill 23 8.7 
			 Canterbury 2 0.0 
			 Cardiff 23 13.0 
			 Castington 19 0.0 
			 Channings Wood 15 0.0 
			 Chelmsford 26 19.2 
			 Coldingley 12 0.0 
			 Cookham Wood 13 15.4 
			 Deerbolt 42 0.0 
			 Dorchester 9 0.0 
			 Dover 2 0.0 
			 Downview 28 21.4 
			 Drake Hall 38 21.1 
			 Durham 35 0.0 
			 East Sutton Park 3 0.0 
			 Eastwood Park 29 3.4 
			 Edmunds Hill 36 8.3 
			 Elmley 43 2.3 
			 Erlestoke 41 24.4 
			 Everthorpe 9 0.0 
			 Exeter 26 7.7 
			 Featherstone 7 0.0 
			 Feltham 191 17.3 
			 Ford 2 50.0 
			 Foston Hall 26 34.6 
			 Frankland 38 0.0 
			 Full Sutton 83 2.4 
			 Garth 21 4.8 
			 Gartree 19 10.5 
			 Glen Parva 23 13.0 
			 Gloucester 17 35.3 
			 Grendon 25 4.0 
			 Guys Marsh 43 9.3 
			 Haslar 11 9.1 
			 Haverigg 13 0.0 
			 High Down 38 5.3 
			 Highpoint 72 11.1 
			 Hindley 27 3.7 
			 Hollesley Bay 8 12.5 
			 Holloway 98 13.3 
			 Holme House 19 0.0 
			 Hull 84 7.1 
			 Huntercombe 45 22.2 
			 Kingston 7 0.0 
			 Kirkham 3 0.0 
			 Kirklevington Grange 7 14.3 
			 Lancaster 9 0.0 
			 Lancaster Farms 21 4.8 
			 Latchmere House 1 0.0 
			 Leeds 48 10.4 
			 Leicester 23 4.3 
			 Lewes 29 6.9 
			 Leyhill 2 0.0 
			 Lincoln 27 3.7 
			 Lindholme 14 14.3 
			 Littlehey 23 21.7 
			 Long Lartin 26 3.8 
			 Low Newton 38 2.6 
			 Maidstone 28 28.6 
			 Manchester 34 8.8 
			 Moorland 34 2.9 
			 Morton Hall 46 13.0 
			 New Hall 47 14.9 
			 North Sea Camp 13 0.0 
			 Northallerton 9 22.2 
			 Norwich 31 12.9 
			 Nottingham 28 3.6 
			 Onley 48 10.4 
			 Parkhurst 34 2.9 
			 Pentonville 107 21.5 
			 Portland 17 23.5 
			 Preston 14 14.3 
			 Ranby 28 3.6 
			 Reading 18 33.3 
			 Risley 64 7.8 
			 Rochester 18 11.1 
			 Send 13 23.1 
			 Shepton Mallet 1 0.0 
			 Shrewsbury 8 0.0 
			 Stafford 20 5.0 
			 Standford Hill 6 0.0 
			 Stocken 23 4.3 
			 Stoke Heath 43 9.3 
			 Styal 39 7.7 
			 Sudbury 4 0.0 
			 Swaleside 75 16.0 
			 Swansea 8 0.0 
			 Swinfen Hall 9 0.0 
			 The Mount 38 23.7 
			 The Verne 2 0.0 
			 Usk/Prescoed 1 0.0 
			 Wakefield 31 0.0 
			 Wandsworth 85 17.6 
			 Warren Hill 32 18.8 
			 Wayland 21 0.0 
			 Wealstun 22 9.1 
			 Weare 16 18.8 
			 Wellingborough 29 10.3 
			 Werrington 18 16.7 
			 Wetherby 30 0.0 
			 Whatton 23 0.0 
			 Whitemoor 66 4.5 
			 Winchester 25 16.0 
			 Woodhill 88 6.8 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 59 15.3 
			 Wymott 22 4.5 
			 Prison Service total 3,895 11.2

Prisons

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prison wings, having been closed awaiting refurbishment, have been reopened this year without work being completed.

Charles Clarke: No prison wings have been taken out of use for refurbishment and brought back into use this year without any work being completed on them.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been (a) tested and (b) found positive for alcohol at each prison for each month since April 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not collated centrally.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) passive and (b) active dogs are deployed at each prison; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Passive and active drug dogs are a part of the Prison Service drug supply reduction policy. The following table shows how many of each type of dogs are deployed at each prison in England and Wales.
	
		Breakdown of dog allocation across the Prison Service
		
			  Passive Active 
		
		
			 North West area   
			 Buckley hall 1  
			 Garth 2 2 
			 Haverigg 2 2 
			 Hindley   
			 Kirkham   
			 Lancaster castle   
			 Lancaster farms   
			 Liverpool   
			 Preston   
			 Risley 1 3 
			 Styal 1 1 
			 Thorn Cross   
			 Wymott 3 3 
			 Area office 15 11 
			
			 North East area   
			 Acklington 2 1 
			 Castington 2 2 
			 Deerbolt 2 2 
			 Durham 6 5 
			 Holme House 2 2 
			 Kirklevington   
			 Low Newton 2 3 
			
			
			 Yorkshire and Humberside   
			 Askham Grange   
			 Everthorpe   
			 Hull   
			 Leeds   
			 Lindholme   
			 Moorland Closed   
			 Moorland Open   
			 New Hall 1 1 
			 Northallerton   
			 Wealstun   
			 Wetherby   
			 Area office 15 14 
			
			 East Midlands   
			 Ashwell 2 2 
			 Foston Hall 2 2 
			 Gartree 2 2 
			 Glen Parva 3 2 
			 Leicester 1 2 
			 Lincoln 2 2 
			 Morton Hall 1 1 
			 North Sea Camp   
			 Nottingham  2 
			 Onley 2 1 
			 Ranby 3 2 
			 Stocken 3 3 
			 Sudbury 2 2 
			 Wellingborough 2 2 
			 Whatton   
			 Area office 1  
			
			 West Midlands   
			 Birmingham 3 3 
			 Blakenhurst 2 1 
			 Brinsford 1  
			 Brockhill   
			 Drake Hall 1 1 
			 Featherstone 1 1 
			 Hewell Grange   
			 Shrewsbury 1 1 
			 Stafford 1 2 
			 Stoke Heath 1 2 
			 Swinfen Hall 1 2 
			 Werrington   
			 Area office   
			
			 Wales   
			 Cardiff 1 1 
			 Swansea 1 12 
			 Usk/Prescoed   
			
			 Eastern   
			 Bedford 2 2 
			 Blundeston 2 2 
			 Bullwood Hall 1 1 
			 Chelmsford 2 2 
			 Edmunds Hill 2 2 
			 Highpoint 3 2 
			 Hollesley Bay 1 1 
			 Littlehay 2 2 
			 The Mount 2 2 
			 Norwich 3 3 
			 Warren Hill 1 1 
			 Wayland 3 2 
			 Area office   
			
			 London   
			 Brixton 2 2 
			 Feltham  2 
			 Holloway 2 2 
			 Latchmere House   
			 Pentonville 2 3 
			 Wandsworth 1 1 
			 Wormwood Scrubs  1 
			
			 Kent   
			 Blantyre House   
			 Canterbury   
			 Cookham Wood   
			 Dover   
			 East Sutton Park   
			 Elmley   
			 Maidstone   
			 Rochester   
			 Standford Hill   
			 Swaleside   
			 Area office 6 7 
			
			 Surrey and Sussex   
			 Coldingley 1 1 
			 Downview 2 2 
			 Ford   
			 High Down 1 1 
			 Lewes   
			 Send 2 1 
			
			 Thames Valley/Hampshire/IOW   
			 Albany 1 2 
			 Aylesbury 1 1 
			 Bullingdon 2 2 
			 Camp Hill 1 1 
			 Grendon/Spring Hill 2 1 
			 Haslar   
			 Huntercombe 1 1 
			 Kingston 2 1 
			 Parkhurst 1 2 
			 Reading 1  
			 Winchester 3 3 
			
			 South West   
			 Bristol 3 2 
			 Channings Wood 2 2 
			 Dartmoor 1 2 
			 Dorchester 2 2 
			 Eastwood Park 2 2 
			 Erlestoke 1 1 
			 Exeter 2 2 
			 Gloucester  2 
			 Guys Marsh 1  
			 Leyhill 1 1 
			 Portland 1 2 
			 Shepton Mallet 1 1 
			 The Verne 1 1 
			 Area office 1 3 
			
			 Contracted prisons   
			 Altcourse 3 3 
			 Ashfield 1  
			 Bronzefield 1 1 
			 Doncaster 2 2 
			 Dovegate 2 1 
			 Forest Bank 2 1 
			 Lowdham grange 1 1 
			 Pare 2 2 
			 Peterborough 1 1 
			 Rye Hill 3 2 
			 Wolds 2 1 
			
			 High Security   
			 Belmarsh 6 6 
			 Frankland 5 6 
			 Full Sutton 2 3 
			 Long Lartin 2 3 
			 Manchester 3 3 
			 Wakefield 3 6 
			 Whitemoor 4 5 
			 Woodhill 3 3 
			
			 National Dog and Technical Support Group 0 7 
			
			 Total 222 242

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serving staff in the Prison Service are in receipt of a Long Service Award; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, approximately 2,900 staff are eligible for the Director General's Long Service Award, having served 25 years in the Prison Service (or 25 years in the civil service, with 20 of those years in the Prison Service).

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to reduce the supply of (a) controlled drugs and (b) mobile telephones into HMP Wandsworth; what assessment he has made of their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Wandsworth has developed robust anti-trafficking measures, using intelligence and visible deterrence including wall patrols and dogs. All visitors to prisoners are warned of the risks they are taking if they try to smuggle drugs. All visitors are subject to standard search procedures using prison staff and passive drug dogs. The prison works closely with the Metropolitan police in action against organised drug gangs. Regular searching of prison staff takes place to check that contraband is not being brought into the prison. Intelligence is assessed against individuals suspected of corruption. A substantial number of mobile phones have been seized over the past 12 months as a result of a combination of searching and intelligence. The number of mobile phones seized has impacted on the trade of drugs. This is evidenced by a year on year reduction in the Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT) rate. MDT failure rates in November 2004 were at 18 per cent. compared with 12 per cent. in November 2005.

Prisons

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons in (a) England and (b) the north east hold more prisoners than their normal certified level; and by how much each is over its limit.

Fiona Mactaggart: As at 3 February 2006 there were no prisons in (a) England or (b) the north east that held more prisoners than their certified operational capacity.

Prisons

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of prisoners in (a) England and (b) London who (i) enter and (ii) successfully complete education training and employment upon release.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office routinely collects data on the proportions of prisoners in England and Wales reporting having employment, training or education (ETE) arranged on release. The latest figures for November 2005 show that 35 per cent. of prisoners about to be discharged reported having ETE arranged.
	The figure for prisoners being released from London prisons (not the same as returning to live in London) is also 35 per cent. It should be noted that the figures refer to the proportions of prisoners reporting having ETE arranged and no checks are routinely made to examine the proportions who actually do enter ETE on release or how soon after release this occurs. No information is currently collected on the proportions or numbers of discharged prisoners who successfully complete any training or education after release or how long discharged prisoners stay in employment.

Prisons

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in (a) England and (b) each prison in London entered education training and employment in each year since 199697.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are no records kept of the numbers entering education, training or employment (ETE) in custody. Education is measured in outcomes as opposed to entries, and employment and training in prisons are not measured as specific activities during custody. Information is recorded for prisoners leaving establishments in England with ETE arranged.
	ETE outcomes also include those who attended FRESHSTART appointments at Jobcentre Plus. FRESHSTART is the initiative whereby prisoners who do not have a job or training place to go to on release are linked into employment, training and benefits advice and support immediately after release. Figures for ETE are available for the last three years and are recorded in the table.
	
		Figures for England and London for prison service area
		
			  Discharges ETE at discharge 
		
		
			 200203   
			 England 81 ,748 20,451 
			
			 London   
			 Brixton 1,013 71 
			 Feltham 577 151 
			 Latchmere House 185 147 
			 Pentonville 1,701 226 
			 Wandsworth 1,795 266 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 776 164 
			 London total 6,047 1,025 
			
			 200304   
			 England 83,801 32,512 
			
			 London   
			 Brixton 1,015 113 
			 Feltham 520 176 
			 Latchmere House 147 100 
			 Pentonville 1,779 536 
			 Wandsworth 1,587 357 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 991 400 
			 London total 6,039 1,681 
			
			 200405   
			 England 82,031 39,361 
			
			 London   
			 Brixton 788 144 
			 Feltham 351 147 
			 Holloway (F) 663 192 
			 Latchmere House 151 143 
			 Pentonville 1,719 630 
			 Wandsworth 1,477 631 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1,251 585 
			 London total 6,400 2,471

Prisons

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been released from Bronzefield Prison, Ashford in each month since it opened.

Fiona Mactaggart: The figures in the table are for final discharges only and do not include discharges to court or hospital.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004  
			 June 1 
			 July 28 
			 August 33 
			 September 50 
			 October 46 
			 November 52 
			 December 51 
			 2005  
			 January 46 
			 February 49 
			 March 48 
			 April 61 
			 May 51 
			 June 61 
			 July 54 
			 August 45 
			 September 45 
			 October 47 
			 November 45 
			 December 42 
			 2006  
			 January 35 
			 Total 890

Prisons

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the underestimate of the overall cost of the building programme at HMP Chelmsford; why the underestimate was discovered as early as one month after building work commenced; what steps are to be taken to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is currently carrying out a review to establish the reasons for the underestimate. The outcome of this review should be available early in the new financial year.

Police Restructuring

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress with his plans for the reorganisation of police services.

Hazel Blears: The Home Secretary made a Written Ministerial Statement on the progress of police force restructuring on 6 February.

Under-age Drinking

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in tackling under-age drinking.

Paul Goggins: The Government have put in place a number of measures to tackle under-age drinking. Through initiatives like Challenge 21 it has worked closely with the alcohol industry to ensure that drinks retailers reduce sales to under-18s. Targeted enforcement has reduced the number of illegal sales to children. In the latest Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign, the failure rate for supermarkets was 17 per cent., down from 50 per cent. in summer 2005.

Volunteering

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase opportunities for volunteers.

Paul Goggins: The numbers of volunteers in England are at record levels. During the Year of the Volunteer in 2005 over 3,000 events were held across 12 themed months with over 2.2 billion volunteering minutes pledged by the public.
	But too many people still face barriers to volunteering, particularly those at risk of exclusion. That is why the Government will invest at least 3 million over the next two years to identify and break down those barriers, making volunteering accessible to all through funding projects across country.

Asylum/Immigration

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers who had (a) signed up for and (b) not signed up for section 4 support have returned home since the introduction of section 4 support, broken down by country of origin.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the number of unsuccessful asylum seekers who have left the UK do not distinguish between those who have received section 4 support and those who have not. The available information on the number of unsuccessful asylum seekers who have returned in the last quarter for which figures are available is contained in the table. During this period the total number on section 4 support increased from 6,715 to 7,630 excluding dependants. Asylum statistics can be found on the Home Office website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds
	
		Top 10 asylum removal nationalities (principal applicants)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Serbia and Montenegro 440 
			 Afghanistan 325 
			 Iraq 255 
			 Turkey 225 
			 Pakistan 180 
			 Nigeria 170 
			 Iran 155 
			 Albania 145 
			 India 120 
			 China 100 
			 Other nationalities 1,350 
			 Total 3,460

Asylum/Immigration

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what status failed asylum seekers have whose country of origin has refused to accept them on deportation and who have been returned to the UK; what provision is made by the Department in such cases; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Failed asylum seekers whose country of origin has refused to accept them on removal and who have been returned to the UK will not be granted leave to enter or remain. If they are granted temporary admission we will make further attempts to remove them through re-documentation or the use of international instruments as appropriate.

Asylum/Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers with dental qualifications entered the UK in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: Information on how many asylum seekers with dental qualifications have entered the UK is not available.

Asylum/Immigration

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to his officials on the time in which they should respond to requests for information to process entry clearance applications from overseas posts.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 February 2006
	There exists a Service Level Agreement between UKvisas and IND (Evidence  Enquiry Unit), which sets a process time of 25 days from receipt of straightforward written inquiries from posts abroad to the despatch of responses.

Asylum/Immigration

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether those convicted of offences involving incitement to violence will be covered by his powers to deprive people of (a) citizenship and (b) abode as set out in the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 February 2006
	This kind of offence might well lead us to explore the possibility of taking deprivation action. It would depend on the precise circumstances of the offence and the full context. We would need to make a judgment about the seriousness of the offence and whether it was conducive to the public good to take such action.

Asylum/Immigration

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) immigration and (b) asylum applications switched to spouse status in each year since 1992, broken down by country of origin;
	(2)  how many asylum applicants switched to migration applications in each year since 1992.

Tony McNulty: Migrants who wish to vary the basis of their stay while in the UK must meet the relevant requirements of the immigration rules. There has never been any provision for asylum applicants to switch into managed migration routes, including marriage. Statistics on switching into the marriage category from other immigration categories are not available.
	However, each case is considered on its individual merits, and caseworkers have discretion to grant leave where there are particular compelling circumstances. To compile statistics would require review of individual cases and hence the information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

Asylum/Immigration

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) work permit recipients and (b) immigration applicants switched to asylum applications in each year since 1992.

Tony McNulty: Any migrant who is in the UK under an Immigration Rules category such as work permit holder can make a claim for asylum if they believe they have a well founded fear of return under the UN Convention. There are no published statistics on the numbers of people in the UK in another capacity who subsequently make a claim for asylum.
	The number of work permit recipients who switched to asylum applications in each year since 2003 (according to our CID records) are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2003 41 
			 2004 33 
			 2005 49 
		
	
	The number of other immigration applications who switched to asylum applications in each year since 2003 (according to our CID records) are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2003 897 
			 2004 778 
			 2005 719

Asylum/Immigration

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Joseph Thabet, reference LR1921 00 5904, will receive notification of his immigration status.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) wrote to Mr. Thabet advising him of his immigration status on 6 February. IND also wrote to the hon. Member to advise him of the outcome of this case on 8 February.

Asylum/Immigration

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list ports and airports which have had a permanent presence of immigration officials in each year since 19992000.

Tony McNulty: Immigration coverage of international arrivals is based upon a range of factors, including the nature and frequency of traffic and the numbers of passengers requiring leave to enter at each port. There are currently 41 manned ports, of which 16 are staffed 24 hours a day in the UK. These ports are Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Robin Hood, Stansted, Harwich and Portsmouth. All except Robin Hood have been staffed permanently since 1999. Robin Hood opened in 2005 and has been staffed 24 hours a day since then. Other ports are covered on a risk assessed and intelligence basis. Officers are deployed to unmanned ports to meet specific arrivals where necessary.

Child Protection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to police on the use of cautions in respect of the offence of having indecent pictures of children.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 2 February 2006
	Guidance on the cautioning of adult offenders is contained in the Cautioning of Adult Offenders Circular 30/2005 issued by the Home Office. The circular offers a framework to help police officers exercise their discretion and professional judgment, but does not provide guidance in relation to individual offences.
	The questions to consider in each case are whether a caution is appropriate to the offence and the offender, and whether a caution is likely to be effective in the circumstances. Broadly, the criteria for cautioning are that there should be sufficient evidence of guilt and a clear and reliable admission of the offence, that it is in the public interest to use a caution as the appropriate means of disposal, and that the suspect should be 18 years or over.
	Indictable-only cases must be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service. If all the above requirements are met, the police officer must consider whether the seriousness of the offence makes it appropriate for disposal by a caution. In order to assist with this decision, officers have been provided with a Gravity Factors Matrix, which is available on the Police National Legal Database. The guidance offers general advice in relation to sexual offences, which include the offence of possessing indecent images of children under 16.
	It advises that a decision to issue a caution in cases involving such offences should not be taken without consulting other relevant agencies. Currently a caution received on or after 1 May 2004 for a relevant sexual offence makes the offender subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for two years from the date of the caution.

Community Policing

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to develop community policing.

Hazel Blears: The Government wants local policing services to be driven by neighbourhood and community needs. We want local people to have a say in what the priorities are, and to know, trust and have confidence in their local policing team.
	We are therefore committed to ensuring that, by 2008, every area in England and Wales will benefit from dedicated, accessible and visible neighbourhood policing teamsled by police officers but involving special constables, community support officers, volunteers, neighbourhood wardens and others too. A programme to deliver on this commitment is well under way.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 25 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Razia Sultana.

Charles Clarke: I replied to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 20 December 2005.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 23 September 2005 on behalf of Corene, Germane and Jeremy Williams, children of Conrad Williams (Home Office Reference W1018091, acknowledgement reference B2263815).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 8 February 2006.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 6th December from the hon. Member for Warley regarding Mr. Faisal Ahmed of Smethwick.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the right hon. Member for Warley on 8 February 2006.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 15 November 2005 from the hon. Member for Warley regarding Mr. Tirath Singh of Oldbury.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Warley on 10 February 2006.

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 14 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Warley regarding Mr. Santokh Singh Dhanda, of Smethwick.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 February 2006.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 22 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms A. Khalik.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 12 January 2006.

Credit Cards

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to compel credit card companies to report the (a) theft and (b) misuse of credit cards to the police; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: It is for credit card companies and individuals to decide whether to report theft or misuse of credit cards to the police and I have no plans to introduce powers to compel them to do so. The banking industry, which maintains comprehensive statistics on the level of plastic card fraud, works closely, with the police to tackle fraud and is funding a successful specialist police unit (The Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit) to tackle organised cheque and card fraud.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken to settle applications for criminal injuries compensation was in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Charles Clarke: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that the median average elapsed time from the date of receipt of an application to the date of first offer was 248 days in 2004, and 291 days in 2005.

Departmental Finance

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administrative costs associated with these functions were for each area in the last year for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: Home Office functions cover a wide range of activities across the United Kingdom and it is not possible, without incurring disproportionate costs, to identify these in the way that has been requested.

Departmental Finance

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Charles Clarke: Home Office functions cover a wide range of activities across the United Kingdom and it is not possible, without incurring disproportionate costs, to identify these in the way that has been requested.

Departmental Finance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what functions in his Department are carried out in Scotland; and what the administrative costs of these functions were in the last year for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: Home Office functions cover a wide range of activities across the United Kingdom and it is not possible, without incurring disproportionate costs, to identify these in the way that has been requested.

Departmental Property

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in each English region owned in (1) 200304 and (2) 200405.

Charles Clarke: The large majority of IT equipment used by the Department is leased from IT provider, Sirius.
	The large majority of IT equipment used by the Department does not therefore appear on the asset register as the Home Office does not own it.
	IT items of equipment owned outright by Home OfficeCore are listed, using the same lettering sequence as the question (a) in both 200304 and in 200405, three were owned (b) in both 200304 and in 200405, 620 were owned (c) in 200304, 181 were owned; in 200405, 182 were owned (d) in both 200304 and 200405, five were owned (e) in both 200304 and 200405, 54 were owned (f) in 200304, 0 were owned; in 200405, two were owned (g) in both 200304 and 200405, one was owned.
	This response does not include items owned by non-departmental public bodies, Executive agencies or other public bodies.

Detention, Escort and Population Unit

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for reasons of detention were received by the Detention, Escort and Population Management Unit in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: None.

DNA

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he (a) has made and (b) plans to make to the recommendations in the Select Committee on Science and Technology's Seventh Paper, Forensic Science on Trial, HC96 200405, that independent research should be undertaken to assess (i) the public attitude towards retention of DNA samples from convicted criminals and others and (ii) the evidence of benefits associated with retaining DNA samples.

Charles Clarke: The Government's response to the recommendations in the Select Committee's report was placed in the House Library on 25 July 2005. The benefits of retaining DNA profiles on the national DNA database is evidenced by the number of matches with crime scene stains which provide vital intelligence to the police in the investigation of those offences.

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in implementing section 14 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: Section 14 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 has not yet been implemented.

Drug Offences

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of people arrested tested positive for (a) opiates, (b) cocaine and (c) any drug at the time of their arrest in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: We cannot currently provide this information on a national basis, or for the specified years. However, some indication is provided by research published by the Home Office in 2004 from the New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Programme (NEW-ADAM).
	This provided information on the proportion of arrested persons testing positive for drugs who had voluntarily agreed to an interview and to provide a urine specimen for analysis. The research was undertaken in selected large custody suites in 16 police force areas between 1999 and 2001 involving approximately 3,000 arrestees, 95 per cent. of whom agreed to provide a urine sample.
	The research showed that for those arrestees voluntarily providing a urine sample, (a) 31 per cent. tested positive for opiates (b) 22 per cent. for cocaine and (c) 69 per cent. for any drug excluding alcohol.
	The NEW-ADAM survey programme has been replaced by a new, continuous, nationally-representative Arrestee Survey. Results from the first year of the survey, covering interviews with about 7,500 arrestees in 60 custody suites from around the country conducted between October 2003 and September 2004, will be published shortly. The survey is on-going and will provide information on trends in drug use among all arrestees in the future.
	The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) was introduced by this Government to break the links between drugs and crime. The intensive form of the programme operates in 97 areas with a history of high levels of drug related crime. Individuals charged with a range of trigger offences, identified through research to be closely linked to drug misuse, are drug tested for specified class A drugs.
	New provisions contained in the Drugs Act 2005 were successfully implemented in three police force areas on 1 December 2005. Testing on arrest now becomes an alternative to testing on charge for those adults arrested for a trigger offence, enabling adults misusing specified class A drugs to be identified earlier in their contact with the criminal justice system, so that they may be steered into treatment and away from crime as soon as possible. Those testing positive will be required to attend an assessment of their drug use. The provisions will be rolled out to the remaining intensive areas in England on 31 March 2006.

Drug Offences

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for dealing in (a) cannabis, (b) heroin and (c) cocaine in each year since 1993.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The information requested is contained in the table.
	
		Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody for a period of exactly 14 years for the offence of dealing(42) in cannabis, heroin and cocaine, in England and Wales1994 to 2004 -- Offenders
		
			  Cannabis Heroin Cocaine 
		
		
			 1994  2  
			 1995  2 1 
			 1996  1  
			 1997  3  
			 1998
			 1999  1  
			 2000  2 2 
			 2001   3 
			 2002  3 1 
			 2003   2 
			 2004  1 1 
		
	
	(42) Interpreted as supplying or offering to supply or being concerned in supplying or being concerned in offering to supply and having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply.
	Source:
	RDS NOMS 2 February 2006

Drug Testing/Treatment Programmes

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were tested for drugs in North Somerset in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005; and how many tests were (i) positive and (ii) negative in each year.

Paul Goggins: The Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) is a critical part of the Government's strategy for tackling drugs. Intensive elements of the programme are operational in 97 high acquisitive crime areas and include testing for class A drugs on charge for certain trigger offences.
	From 1 December 2005 new provisions contained in the Drugs Act 2005 have been implemented in three police force areas: Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Nottingham. These give police powers to test for specified class A drugs on arrest and to require persons who have tested positive for a specified class A drug to attend an assessment of their drug use (an initial assessment). Whilst the DIP provisions for drug testing are not operational in North Somerset but other key elements of the programme are. Offenders can be tested for drug use as a requirement of a community sentence, either as part of a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) or, since April 2005, a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) of the community order. The number of DTTOs and DRRs made in North Somerset from 200305 were:
	
		
			  DTTOs DRRs 
		
		
			 2003 5  
			 2004 22  
			 2005 24 8 
		
	
	The results of drug tests on offenders subject to DTTOs/DRRs within North Somerset from 200305 is not centrally available. Drug testing of prolific and other priority offenders (PPOs) on licence was introduced across England and Wales from April 2005. Three PPOs within North Somerset had been made subject to such a licence condition up to 31 December 2005. Aggregated drug test data for PPOs on licence within North Somerset are not routinely collected centrally.

Drug Testing/Treatment Programmes

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2892W, on drug testing (drivers), what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on the use of tests on saliva for the presence of drugs.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office Scientific Development Branch is currently developing a device to test for the presence of drugs via analysis of saliva. The branch keeps fully abreast of relevant work in other countries, including the recent developments in Australia. An official from the branch attended in December a conference reporting the Australian experience and other findings worldwide. All relevant material will be taken properly into account as work continues.

Drug Testing/Treatment Programmes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug testing and treatment conditions have been attached to (a) action plan orders and (b) supervision orders.

Charles Clarke: The Government remain committed to exploring as many avenues as possible to ensure that young people receive appropriate provision to address their substance misuse. Drug treatment and testing conditions attached to action plan orders and supervision orders are part of a range of available interventions.
	The latest monitoring data (December 2005), shows that 14 drug treatment and testing conditions have been attached to supervision orders in the five areas where this intervention has been piloted. To date, courts have not applied either a treatment option, or a treatment and testing option to an action plan order. It is recognised that not all young people will be assessed as needing the rigours of an on-going drug treatment or drug treatment and testing requirement to address their substance misuse. The important principle remains to make the widest range of interventions available to young people.

Drug Testing/Treatment Programmes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have committed an offence within a year of completing a drug treatment programme in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: Information on reoffending following completion of a programme is not routinely collated on an individual basis. Research evidence shows that drug treatment can lead to a significant reduction in drug taking and associated offending. In prisons, research into the effectiveness of drug interventions shows that completion of an intensive treatment programme can lead to significantly lower rates of reconviction (up to 10 per cent.) after two years, provided treatment was continued on release.

Drug Testing/Treatment Programmes

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many referrals were made to the Cambridgeshire probation area regarding (a) drug treatment and testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements in the last period for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: 31 drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) and 62 community orders with a drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) were made in Cambridgeshire between April-December 2005, the last period for which figures are available.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funds his Department has contributed to UK efforts to halt the import of illegal drugs from Afghanistan.

Paul Goggins: In 200506 380 million is going towards reducing the availability of illegal drugs in the UK. It is not possible to disaggregate the amount by origin of the drugs.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies his Department has developed to deal with the flow of illegal drugs into the UK from Afghanistan.

Paul Goggins: The Government's Drug Strategy aims to reduce the harms caused by all illicit drugs. It focuses on the most dangerous drugsheroin, crack and cocainethe most damaged communities and the problematic drug users who cause the most harm to themselves and others. The Strategy takes a holistic approach which complements efforts to reduce the supply of drugs with action to diminish demand.
	The White Paper, One Step Ahead, a 21st Century Strategy to defeat organised crime (Cm 6167) set out our plans for tackling organised crime, of which Class A drugs trafficking forms a part. They are based on the principle of reducing harm and include the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency with effect from 1 April.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking with European partners to stem the import of illegal drugs from Afghanistan.

Paul Goggins: We co-operate closely with police, customs and other law enforcement agencies in Europe, both bilaterally and through Europol, to interdict drug supply from Afghanistan, and to target the criminal groups who profit from this trade, all along the supply chain. We are also seeking to increase the amount of assistance provided by the ED to the counter-narcotics work of the Government of Afghanistan. In 2005 the total assistance given by the European Commission and EU member states rose by 250 million euros.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the effects on heroin use in the UK of the illegal drugs trade in Afghanistan.

Paul Goggins: We estimate that over 90 per cent. of the heroin which reaches the UK originates in Afghanistan.

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that front-line staff in the (a) police and (b) probation services have adequate education and training concerning crack cocaine use and treatment.

Charles Clarke: The primary responsibility for the training of police officers and probation officers lies with their respective professional organisations.
	To assist both the probation service and police the National Treatment Agency has established a work programme specifically to address this issue, which focuses on: developing a comprehensive training package for front-line staff based on new occupational standards; piloting a range of new materials and tools to enable front-line staff to work more effectively with crack users; evaluating existing specialist services with a view to identifying and disseminating good practice.
	Probation officer training has modules on substance misuse, which are consistent with the Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS).

Drugs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the worth of the UK heroin market.

Charles Clarke: In 2000 the Home Office published Sizing the UK Market for Illicit Drugs, www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/occ74-drugs.pdf, which provides estimates of the value of the UK market for illicit drugs in 1998. This estimates that the total value of the UK market for heroin in 1998 was 2,313 million.

Feltham Young Offenders

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents in the security links corridors at Feltham young offenders institution have been experienced by prison officers responding to alarm bells in each of the past five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The figures are set out in the table. Figures for 2001 to 2003 are drawn from all available accident books, and for 200405 from accident investigation documents.
	
		Number of accidents in the security links corridors at Feltham young offenders institution
		
			  Number of accidents 
		
		
			 2001 0 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 5

Financial Fraud

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of financial fraud suffered by individuals was represented by card-not-present fraud in the latest year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: APACS (the UK payments association) figures show that in 2004 card not present fraud represented just under 30 per cent. of all plastic card fraud losses. Card not present fraud accounted for 150.8 million of the 504.8 million total.

Fixed-penalty Notices

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued for drunk and disorderly behaviour in each of the last four years, broken down by police authority.

Charles Clarke: After being piloted in four police forces between August 2002 and September 2003, penalty notices for disorder were rolled out to all police forces in England and Wales during 2004. The following table gives figures for the number of penalty notices issued for being drunk and disorderly in 2004 by each police force, alongside provisional figures for January to July 2005.
	
		Number of penalty notices for disorder issued for 'drunk and disorderly' behaviour by police force area, England and Wales, 2004 and January-July 2005(43)
		
			  Drunk and disorderly 
			 Police force Area 2004 2005(43) (January to July) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 176 169 
			 Bedfordshire 144 142 
			 Cambridgeshire 189 147 
			 Cheshire 409 142 
			 Cleveland 368 457 
			 Cumbria 403 393 
			 Derbyshire 372 282 
			 Devon and Cornwall 988 790 
			 Dorset 82 54 
			 Durham 441 421 
			 Essex 714 234 
			 Gloucestershire 282 177 
			 Greater Manchester 333 291 
			 Hampshire 1,074 533 
			 Hertfordshire 208 74 
			 Humberside 604 378 
			 Kent 498 804 
			 Lancashire 2,869 2,567 
			 Leicestershire 67 37 
			 Lincolnshire 174 36 
			 London, City of 32 14 
			 Merseyside 2,728 2,066 
			 Metropolitan 4,081 1,688 
			 Norfolk 79 57 
			 North Yorkshire 373 318 
			 Northamptonshire 246 316 
			 Northumbria 126 640 
			 Nottinghamshire 477 350 
			 South Yorkshire 1,590 1,219 
			 Staffordshire 452 239 
			 Suffolk 267 164 
			 Surrey 80 154 
			 Sussex 1,029 760 
			 Thames Valley 396 132 
			 Warwickshire 250 82 
			 West Mercia 141 145 
			 West Midlands 1,580 739 
			 West Yorkshire 923 790 
			 Wiltshire 346 160 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys 183 174 
			 Gwent 127 88 
			 North Wales 639 510 
			 South Wales 69 110 
			
			 England and Wales 26,609 19,043 
		
	
	(43) Provisional data.
	Source: RDSOffice for Criminal Justice Reform.

Home Detention Curfews

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to speed up the process for (a) tagging criminals and (b) prosecuting violators of curfews.

Fiona Mactaggart: The electronic monitoring contractors must comply with strict Home Office deadlines for tagging people and prosecuting curfew breaches. Any under-performance results in financial deductions from the amount paid to them for delivering the electronic monitoring service.
	In December 2005 the contractors met the deadlines for tagging people in 99.5 per cent. of cases and for breaching curfews in 96.0 per cent. of cases. A cross-agency delivery plan is in place to speed up the enforcement of community penalty breaches, which includes cases where curfew requirements have been breached. Prisoners released under the home detention curfew scheme who fail to comply with the curfew conditions are liable to be recalled to prison by the Secretary of State. The National Offender Management Service is required to issue a revocation order within 24 hours of being notified, by the electronic monitoring contractors, of a confirmed breach of curfew. This target is met in 100 per cent. of cases of HDC breach of curfew.

Home Detention Curfews

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people breached home detention curfew conditions and were subsequently returned to custody in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the number of persons recalled to prison from home detention curfew between 1999 and 2004, by reason for recall, can be found in table 10.7 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/05: 'Offender Management Caseload Statistics, England and Wales, 2004'. Copies of this publication can be found in the Library.

Identity Cards

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from Windsor constituency in support of identity cards.

Andy Burnham: Since January 2004, the Identity Cards Programme has received one representation in support of the ID Cards Scheme, in which the correspondent's address identifies them as residing within the constituency of Windsor.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government have undertaken research to test the biometric technology to be used in the proposed identity card scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The specific biometric technology to be used in the identity card scheme will not be finalised until a competitive tendering process is complete. This process cannot commence before the Identity Cards Bill receives Royal Assent. Thus, it is not possible to undertake research to test this technology at this point in time.
	However, extensive testing of the technology is planned both during and after the procurement process and market sounding activities have been taking place with potential suppliers in accordance with Office of Government Commerce best practice and in co-operation with Intellect, the UK trade association for the hi-tech industry. Additionally, extensive work has been undertaken in the process of setting relevant requirements around biometrics in advance of the procurement process. A dedicated experienced team are working on this area, who review all latest scientific research in the field and co-operate with experts.
	This involves working with leading biometric experts from the US National Institute for Standards and Technology, San Jose University, UK National Physical Laboratory and the Communications-Electronic Security Group among others, who have conducted a significant amount of reputable research into the performance of biometrics.
	This work is also informed by the experiences of other biometric schemes both within the UK and outside, such as US Visit and biometric cards schemes in the Philippines and Hong Kong. The findings of this work to date is that biometrics are suitable for use in large scale operations such as the proposed identity cards scheme. Finally, this work is subject to significant oversight by the government's Biometrics Assurance Group, chaired by the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, and the Home Office Senior Biometric Adviser.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the possibility of incorporating Police National Computer numbers into the National Identity Register is under consideration; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The possibility of incorporating the Police National Computer number into the National Identity Register is not under consideration. At Commons Report stage of the Identity Cards Bill, the Government amended the Bill so that, under Clause 1(6), any number allocated to a person for identification purposes which would reveal personal sensitive data (within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998 (c.29)) or whose disclosure would tend to reveal such data was not a registrable fact. This was introduced as a safeguard as it rules out explicitly the possibility of the Police National Computer being recorded on the National Identity Register.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) planning work and (b) cost estimates have been undertaken regarding the assessment of applications for exemptions when the Identity Card Scheme becomes compulsory; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Detailed planning and cost estimates have not been undertaken in respect of assessments of applications for exemptions. These issues will be considered closer to the time when there is a definitive proposal to implement compulsory registration.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he estimates it will cost an individual to obtain a replacement identity card if it is (a) stolen, (b) lost and (c) damaged.

Andy Burnham: No final decisions have been taken regarding the cost of replacement identity cards if an individual's card is lost, stolen or damaged. Any fee charged in these circumstances will require the approval of Parliament.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 946W on identity cards, if he will publish the security risk assessment reports that have been produced.

Andy Burnham: The Government will not publish these assessments. To do so would put at risk the future security and integrity of the identity cards scheme.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2005, Official Report, column 344W, on identity cards, what the results were of his Department's further analysis of the estimates for the benefits which are defined as not yet qualified completely in paragraph 25 of the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the identity card scheme of 25 May 2005; and whether that analysis is complete.

Andy Burnham: The identity cards programme is continuing to identify and quantify benefits alongside detailed benefits realisation planning for those benefits which have already been identified. The analysis is ongoing and the results are fed into the business case at major review points.

Identity Fraud

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his written statement of 2 February 2006, Official Report, columns 2931WS, on identity fraud, what his Department's definition of identity fraud is; and whether it is the same as the definition given by the Cabinet Office in its 2002 report.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 9 February 2006
	The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee (IFSC), a collaboration between UK financial bodies, government and the police to combat the threat of identity theft, has developed a high-level set of identity crime definitions.
	The definitions developed by the IFSC evolved from the working definitions and findings in the 2002 Cabinet Office Study. The IFSC definition of identity crime is:
	1. Identity Crime is a generic term for Identity Theft, creating a False Identity or committing Identity Fraud.
	2. False Identity is: (a) a fictitious (ie invented) identity; or (b) an existing (ie genuine) identity that has been altered to create a fictitious identity.
	3. Identity Theft occurs when sufficient information about an identity is obtained to facilitate Identity Fraud, irrespective of whether, in the case of an individual, the victim is alive or dead.
	4. Identity Fraud occurs when a False Identity or someone else's identity details are used to support unlawful activity, or when someone avoids obligation/liability by falsely claiming that he/she was the victim of Identity Fraud.

Imams

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of imams admitted to the UK since 2000 as ministers of religion who are no longer working as practising imams.

Tony McNulty: Anyone granted entry to the UK as a Minister of Religion is admitted on the basis that they will work full time as a Minister of Religion. The first grant of leave is usually for a period of 12 months. Those who apply for further leave to remain or settlement must show that they fully meet the requirements of these Rules.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many files have been lost by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The information is not available in the format requested. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's IT System File Tracking indicates that at present there are 15,994 files unaccounted for, wholly or in part, representing 0.2 per cent. of a total file holding of approximately 6.5 million. A range of measures including additional training and targeted exercises to locate files and update records is currently being pursued to reduce this number.

Internet (China)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the scale of (a) internet viruses and (b) attempts at internet fraud emanating from China which aim to obtain data from public and commercial bodies in the UK; what agencies are involved in its detection; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) issued an alert last summer warning of concerted Trojan email attacks from the Far East against UK Government and business interests. NISCC described the scale of attacks as almost 'industrial.' NISCC offered mitigating advice and information that allowed the Anti Virus Software community to block the attacks.

Khat

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to publicise the health risks of khat.

Paul Goggins: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report on khat, published on 19 January, described the health risks associated with the plant. The report made a number of recommendations including on making users aware of the risks. All of the ACMD's recommendations were accepted and an implementation plan is currently being constructed.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has sent a written submission to the Lyons Inquiry on local government finance.

Charles Clarke: The Lyons Inquiry addresses issues which are of significant importance to Home Office business and we are fully engaged with this piece of work. We are working closely with Sir Michael and his team; we have been feeding in views through the Lyons Inquiry High Level Liaison Group; and my officials are currently examining the interim report so we can provide even more input. I will look closely at the implications for the Home Office of any recommendations which the Lyons Inquiry makes when it reports fully at the end of 2006.

Merchant Seamen (Identity Verification)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of merchant ships used International Maritime Organisation certificates rather than passports and visas to stay at UK ports in each year since 19992000; and whether he has plans to increase the levels of (a) personal identification for and (b) access controls applied to such staff.

Tony McNulty: The information requested about the number of staff of merchant ships using International Maritime Organisation certificates rather than passports and visas to stay at UK ports in each year since 19992000 is not available.
	The United Kingdom currently accepts identity documents, presented by ship's crew for admission to the United Kingdom, which have been issued under the International Labour Organization (ILO) Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention No. 108 in lieu of a passport. We are however currently considering, in conjunction with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Department of Transport, ratifying the new ILO Convention No. 185 adopted in 2003 which aims to introduce measures to improve the security of seafarers' identification including proposals for a new seafarers' identity document.
	The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill contains provisions which will enable the Immigration Service to effectively respond to the risk posed by unscrupulous persons posing as sea crew. The Bill contains a power for the Secretary of State to introduce secondary legislation to enable an immigration officer to require crew particulars to be provided before the arrival of the ship and by a specified means. This will allow the Immigration Service to administer a more effective flexible clearance policy based on a better evaluation of the risk. We envisage that the routine collection of crew data will ultimately be implemented in the longer term as part of the e-Borders programme. In the interim, and following the implementation of secondary legislation we will require details of arriving sea crew to be routinely provided in advance.

Methylamphetamine

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will (a) undertake a public awareness campaign about the impact of the misuse of methylamphetamine and (b) set out the risks associated with misuse of the drug.

Paul Goggins: The risks associated with the misuse of methylamphetamine were clearly set out in the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) report published in November 2005 and available on the Home Office website, www.drugs.gov.uk. I do not plan to undertake a dedicated public awareness campaign about the impact of the drug at this stage but information is readily available at the Frank website www.talktofrank.com.

Ministerial Meetings

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he and his officials have had since 1 January 2005 with representatives of the United States correctional industry.

Fiona Mactaggart: Central records are not routinely collated. The following meetings are known to have taken place since one January 2005: The GEO Group was represented at the contracted prisons conference sector held on 12 and 13 January 2006. This conference was attended by officials only. The GEO Group also attended a meeting with officials on 23 January 2006 for private companies interested in delivering services for offenders under the National Offender Management Service.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 7 July he has used the London Underground in connection with his official duties.

Charles Clarke: All ministerial travel on official business is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are in the Library. Like all Cabinet Ministers, I have the use of a Government Car. We do not discuss particular transport arrangements for security reasons.

Murderers

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time served was in each year by those convicted of murder and released in the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the average length of time served for mandatory life sentence prisoners released between 1994 and 2004 can be found in table 10.5 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/05: 'Offender Management Caseload Statistics, England and Wales, 2004'. Copies of this publication can be found in the Library.

National Identity Register

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public sector databases to which the National Identity Register will be linked.

Andy Burnham: The National Identity Register will not be directly linked to other public sector database. The Identity Cards Bill provides for the provision of information by and to the Secretary of State for the purposes of administrating and operating the ID Cards Scheme. Achieving this does not require particular public sector databases to be linked to the National Identity Register.

National Offender Management Service

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government have to implement the recommendation of the Chief Inspector of Prisons that the National Offender Management Service, in conjunction with the Department of Health, should develop a national strategy for older and less able prisoners that conforms to the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act and the National Service Framework for older people.

Charles Clarke: With the introduction of the National Offender Management Information System (NOMIS), the National Offender Management Service will continue the current Prison Service policy of assessing prisoners' individual needs. It will require both the public and private sector prison to provide services that meet the needs of older prisoners on a case-by-case basis. The integration of Prison Service health care within the NHS will ensure that the health care provision for older and less able prisoners will be delivered by and become the responsibility of the primary care trusts.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional statutory all-Wales bodies he expects will be established under the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: It is not currently envisaged that any new statutory all-Wales bodies will be established under the National Offender Management Service.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made as part of the preparations for the National Offender Management Service of services which might be commissioned in Wales within the 1/4/22 pyramid of templates.

Fiona Mactaggart: A Pathfinder Project was commissioned by the Home Office with the agreement of the Welsh Assembly Government to examine ways of delivering a reducing re-offending strategy within the specific Welsh context. The outcome has led to the joint launch of Joining Together in Wales: an Adult and Young People's Strategy to Reduce Re-offending on one February 2006 by the Welsh Assembly Government and Home Office Ministers.
	The strategy identifies the issues and aims that need to be addressed and forms the basis of a consultation to develop a reducing re-offending action plan for Wales. The outcome of the consultation and the subsequent development of the action plan will help inform future commissioning by NOMS of services for Wales, taking into account the National, regional and unitary authority levels in Wales to which you refer.

National Offender Management Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking as part of the preparations for the National Offender Management Service to enable the Wales Offender Manager to engage effectively with stakeholders and partners from the (a) courts, (b) voluntary community and (c) private sectors.

Fiona Mactaggart: We have appointed a Director for the National Offender Management Service in Wales whose responsibilities include engaging with stakeholders and partners in Wales to tackle re-offending. We are also working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government at both Ministerial and official level to ensure that the development of the National Offender management Service in Wales takes full account of the issues and structures relevant to Wales. There is also a programme of major events being held across England and in Wales to support the effective engagement of all stakeholders and partners.

Non-violent Offences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use is made of custodial remand for those charged with non-violent offences; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The decision on whether to grant bail or remand a defendant in custody is one for the courts to make, in each case, in line with the statutory framework primarily set out in the Bail Act 1976.
	The court may withhold bail if it is satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that, if released on bail, the defendant would abscond, commit an offence, interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice. The nature and seriousness of the alleged offence forms only part of the consideration of the court when making the decision whether to grant bail or remand in custody.
	The court will also consider the weight of the evidence against the defendant, the defendant's character, antecedents, associations, community ties and past record of complying with bail, as well as any other factors which appear relevant.

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people have been convicted under Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in each year since 1997; what their average sentence was in each year; and how many in each year were given a home detention curfew;
	(2)  how many people have been convicted of an offence under Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in each year since 1997; what their average sentence was; and how many in each year were given a home detention curfew.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Persons found guilty of grievous bodily harm under sections 18(44) and 20(45) of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, England and Wales
		
			  Sec 18 (GBH with intent) Sec 20 (GBH) 
			  Number of persons found guilty Average custodial sentence length (months) Number of persons found guilty Average custodial sentence length (months) 
		
		
			 1997 1,544 44.1 4,582 15.3 
			 1998 1,464 43.9 4,933 15.1 
			 1999 1,402 45.8 4,605 15.5 
			 2000 1,357 45.0 4,443 15.6 
			 2001 1,413 48.0 4,390 16.1 
			 2002 1,527 46.5 4,629 17.0 
			 2003 1,497 50.3 4,500 17.7 
			 2004 1,698 48.6 4,373 17.7 
		
	
	(44) Wounding etc. with intent to do grievous bodily harm etc. or to resist apprehension.
	(45) Wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm (inflicting grievous bodily injury with or without weapon).
	Source:
	RDS-NOMS 6 February 2006.
	
		Number of prisoners serving sentences under sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 who were released on HOC between 19992005(46)
		
			  Grievous bodily harm (section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861) Grievous Bodily Harm, (intent) (section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861) 
		
		
			 1999 1,147 41 
			 2000 1,220 38 
			 2001 1,203 16 
			 2002 1,485 25 
			 2003 1,568 23 
			 2004 1,321 15 
			 2005 1,313 14 
		
	
	(46) Data as recorded on the Prison Service Inmate Information System.
	Source:
	RDS-NOMS 06/02/2006

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted under Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 appealed against their sentences in each year since 1997; how many of them had their sentence reduced; and by what amount in each case.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the position at 2 February 2006.
	
		
			 Year received Approximate number of applications received Approximate number where sentence reduced(47) Number still awaiting resolution 
		
		
			 1997 130 18  
			 1998 120 31  
			 1999 126 19  
			 2000 101 23  
			 2001 103 26  
			 2002 98 15  
			 2003 102 17  
			 2004 152 35 1 
			 2005 118 16 27 
			 Grand total 1,050 201 28 
		
	
	(47) Includes all appeals where there was a reduction to any aspect of the sentence.
	The amount by which the above sentences were reduced is shown in the following table. The table does not identify those cases where the change was to an aspect of sentence other than imprisonment or where the tariff was reduced on a life sentence. Also, whilst all the cases involved a charge under s20, the change to sentence may not have related to that charge.
	
		
			  Trial sentence Sentence after appeal 
			 Year received Years Months Days Years Months Days 
		
		
			 1997 6 0 0 4 6 0 
			 1997 9 0 0 7 6 0 
			 1997 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1997 7 0 0 5 6 0 
			 1997 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1977 11 0 0 8 0 0 
			 1997 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1997 8 0 0 6 0 0 
			 1997 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 1997 3 9 0 3 0 0 
			 1997 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1997 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1997 4 6 0 3 6 0 
			 1977 4 0 0 2 6 0 
			 1997 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1997 12 0 0 8 0 0 
			 1997 8 0 0 6 6 0 
			 1997 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1998 20 0 0 12 0 0 
			 1998 15 0 0 12 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1998 7 0 0 6 6 0 
			 1998 7 0 0 6 6 0 
			 1998 21 0 0 18 0 0 
			 1998 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1998 16 0 0 13 10 0 
			 1998 0 6 0 0 0 42 
			 1998 8 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1998 7 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1998 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 1998 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 1998 11 0 0 9 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1998 14 3 0 12 0 0 
			 1998 5 6 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 4 0 0 3 6 0 
			 1998 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 2 6 0 
			 1998 3 6 0 0 12 0 
			 1998 8 0 0 7 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1998 3 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1998 8 0 0 6 0 0 
			 1998 2 6 0 2 0 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1999 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 1999 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 1999 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1999 12 0 0 10 0 0 
			 1999 5 0 0 3 9 0 
			 1999 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 1999 7 0 0 5 6 0 
			 1999 5 0 0 0 3 0 
			 1999 7 0 0 6 0 0 
			 1999 6 0 0 3 6 0 
			 1999 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1999 9 0 0 7 0 0 
			 1999 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1999 12 0 0 10 0 0 
			 1999 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1999 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1999 Life 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1999 12 0 0 10 0 0 
			 1999 4 9 0 3 9 0 
			 2000 0 18 0 0 6 0 
			 2000 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2000 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2000 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 8 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2000 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2000 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2000 8 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2000 13 0 0 10 0 0 
			 2000 0 20 0 0 12 0 
			 2000 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2000 0 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2000 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2000 9 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2000 11 0 0 9 0 0 
			 2000 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2000 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2000 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2000 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2000 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2000 5 6 0 3 0 0 
			 2001 24 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2001 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2001 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2001 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2001 8 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2001 7 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2001 7 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2001 12 0 0 10 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2001 7 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2001 3 6 0 3 0 0 
			 2001 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2001 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2001 3 6 0 2 6 0 
			 2001 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2001 7 0 0 3 2 0 
			 2001 9 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2001 7 0 0 4 6 0 
			 2001 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2001 3 0 0 0 12 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2001 8 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2001 13 6 0 11 6 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2001 4 6 0 3 6 0 
			 2001 1 3 0 0 9 0 
			 2002 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2002 12 0 0 10 0 0 
			 2002 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2002 8 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2002 3 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2002 9 0 0 9 0 0 
			 2002 0 27 0 0 21 0 
			 2002 Life 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2002 10 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2002 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2002 23 0 0 20 0 0 
			 2002 4 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2002 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2003 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2003 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2003 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2003 15 0 0 12 0 0 
			 2003 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2003 15 0 0 12 0 0 
			 2003 10 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2003 6 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2003 10 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2003 3 9 0 3 0 0 
			 2003 11 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2003 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2003 12 0 0 10 0 0 
			 2003 5 6 0 5 6 0 
			 2003 9 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2003 6 6 0 5 6 0 
			 2003 9 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 3 11 0 3 6 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2004 10 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2004 9 0 0 7 6 0 
			 2004 5 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 10 0 0 7 6 0 
			 2004 8 0 0 5 6 0 
			 2004 3 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 10 0 0 7 6 0 
			 2004 8 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2004 9 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2004 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2004 9 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2004 12 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2004 7 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2004 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2004 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2004 7 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2004 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2004 6 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2004 3 6 0 3 6 0 
			 2004 6 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2004 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2004 8 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2004 3 6 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 10 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2004 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 2004 12 0 0 8 0 0 
			 2004 5 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2004 13 0 0 11 0 0 
			 2005 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2005 Life5 0 0 Life4 0 0 
			 2005 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2005 8 0 0 6 0 0 
			 2005 7 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2005 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2005 3 6 0 3 3 0 
			 2005 6 0 0 5 6 0 
			 2005 9 0 0 7 0 0 
			 2005 8 0 0 5 0 0 
			 2005 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2005 0 18 0 0 12 0 
			 2005 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2005 11 0 0 9 0 0 
			 2005 3 0 0 0 27 0 
			 2005 9 0 0 7 0 0

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted under Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 appealed against their sentence in each year since 1997; how many of them had their sentence reduced; and by what amount in each case.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the position at 2 February 2006.
	
		
			 Year received Approximate number of applications received(48) Approximate number where sentence reduced(48) Number still awaiting resolution 
		
		
			 1997 119 21  
			 1998 111 27  
			 1999 102 30  
			 2000 101 21  
			 2001 86 12  
			 2002 96 30  
			 2003 80 17  
			 2004 111 23  
			 2005 85 20 10 
			 Grand Total 891 201 10 
		
	
	(48) Includes all appeals where there was a reduction to any aspect of the sentence.
	The amount by which the previous sentences were reduced is shown in the following table. The table does not identify those cases where the change was to an aspect of sentence other than imprisonment or where the tariff was reduced on a life sentence. Also, while all the cases involved a charge under s20, the change to sentence may not have related to that charge.
	
		
			  Trial sentence Sentence after appeal 
			 Year received Years Months Days Years Months Days 
		
		
			 1997 4 0 0 2 6 0 
			 1997 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1997 8 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1997 0 20 0 0 12 0 
			 1997 5 0 0 4 6 0 
			 1997 1 8 0 0 12 0 
			 1997 8 6 0 6 6 0 
			 1997 5 0 0 4 5 0 
			 1997 2 0 0 0 21 0 
			 1997 3 6 0 3 0 0 
			 1997 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1997 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1997 0 21 0 0 18 0 
			 1997 2 0 0 1 6 0 
			 1997 1 9 0 1 0 0 
			 1997 0 21 0 0 15 0 
			 1997 0 20 0 0 12 0 
			 1997 3 6 0 0 0 0 
			 1997 3 6 0 2 6 0 
			 1997 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1997 6 0 0 0 4 0 
			 1998 2 3 0 2 2 0 
			 1998 5 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 1998 0 21 0 0 15 0 
			 1998 2 6 0 0 18 0 
			 1998 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 1998 3 6 0 2 6 0 
			 1998 4 0 0 0 30 0 
			 1998 0 30 0 0 12 0 
			 1998 0 9 0 0 6 0 
			 1998 0 6 0 0 6 0 
			 1998 1 0 0 0 6 0 
			 1998 0 9 0 0 9 0 
			 1998 2 0 0 0 9 0 
			 1998 0 15 0 0 9 0 
			 1998 4 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1998 1 3 0 0 0 0 
			 1998 1 0 0 0 3 0 
			 1998 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 1998 3 6 0 3 3 0 
			 1998 1 6 0 0 12 0 
			 1998 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1998 0 18 0 0 9 0 
			 1998 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1998 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1998 3 0 0 2 6 0 
			 1998 1 6 0 0 12 0 
			 1999 0 18 0 0 18 0 
			 1999 0 12 0 0 6 0 
			 1999 0 18 0 0 6 0 
			 1999 2 6 0 2 0 0 
			 1999 6 0 0 5 0 0 
			 1999 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1999 0 15 0 0 9 0 
			 1999 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 1999 0 16 0 0 9 0 
			 1999 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1999 0 16 0 0 9 0 
			 1999 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 1999 0 9 0 0 6 0 
			 1999 0 15 0 0 12 0 
			 1999 2 6 0 1 9 0 
			 1999 0 12 0 0 6 0 
			 1999 0 12 0 0 0 0 
			 1999 0 18 0 0 12 0 
			 1999 0 8 0 0 3 0 
			 1999 4 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1999 1 6 0 0 12 0 
			 1999 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1999 0 12 0 0 6 0 
			 1999 0 27 0 0 18 0 
			 1999 3 0 0 0 18 0 
			 1999 4 0 0 4 0 0 
			 1999 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 1999 0 15 0 0 3 0 
			 1999 3 0 0 0 12 0 
			 1999 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2000 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 0 18 0 0 12 0 
			 2000 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 2 0 0 0 14 0 
			 2000 0 30 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 2000 2 0 0 1 3 0 
			 2000 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2000 0 18 0 0 12 0 
			 2000 5 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2000 4 0 0 2 6 0 
			 2000 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2000 6 0 0 4 6 0 
			 2000 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 0 12 0 0 3 0 
			 2000 0 18 0 0 12 0 
			 2000 3 6 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 3 6 0 2 0 0 
			 2000 0 30 0 0 24 0 
			 2001 4 1 0 2 6 0 
			 2001 2 6 0 2 0 0 
			 2001 0 12 0 0 6 0 
			 2001 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2001 4 6 0 2 6 0 
			 2001 2 0 0 0 12 0 
			 2001 0 12 0 0 6 0 
			 2001 2 6 0 0 18 0 
			 2001 3 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2001 8 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2001 0 15 0 0 9 0 
			 2001 1 9 0 0 15 0 
			 2002 4 6 0 0 21 0 
			 2002 2 6 0 0 21 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 3 0 0 2 6 0 
			 2002 0 12 0 0 8 0 
			 2002 2 0 0 0 15 0 
			 2002 0 12 0 0 8 0 
			 2002 0 12 0 0 9 0 
			 2002 3 8 0 0 18 0 
			 2002 0 9 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 2 0 0 0 14 0 
			 2002 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2002 4 6 0 3 6 0 
			 2002 3 0 0 1 6 0 
			 2002 2 6 0 2 0 0 
			 2002 0 30 0 0 18 0 
			 2002 0 18 0 0 6 0 
			 2002 1 6 0 0 12 0 
			 2002 3 6 0 2 0 0 
			 2002 4 6 0 3 0 0 
			 2002 0 21 0 0 15 0 
			 2002 0 18 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 2 6 0 0 12 0 
			 2002 3 0 0 0 15 0 
			 2002 0 15 0 0 9 0 
			 2002 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2002 0 15 0 0 9 0 
			 2002 0 18 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2002 5 0 0 4 3 0 
			 2003 1 0 0 0 4 0 
			 2003 2 6 0 0 18 0 
			 2003 3 6 0 2 6 0 
			 2003 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2003 2 3 0 0 12 0 
			 2003 3 9 0 2 9 0 
			 2003 3 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2003 0 20 0 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 12 0 0 6 0 
			 2003 3 0 0 0 10 0 
			 2003 0 30 0 0 15 0 
			 2003 0 4 0 0 0 28 
			 2003 3 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2003 0 18 0 0 9 0 
			 2003 0 18 0 0 10 0 
			 2003 2 0 0 1 0 0 
			 2003 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2004 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 2004 4 6 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 0 18 0 0 9 0 
			 2004 0 18 0 0 10 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 3 6 0 2 6 0 
			 2004 3 0 0 0 27 0 
			 2004 6 3 0 4 3 0 
			 2004 3 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2004 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2004 0 21 0 0 12 0 
			 2004 3 9 0 2 0 0 
			 2004 0 27 0 0 18 0 
			 2004 5 0 0 3 6 0 
			 2004 3 4 0 2 10 0 
			 2004 0 18 0 0 9 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 4 0 0 
			 2004 2 0 0 0 15 0 
			 2004 0 9 0 0 5 0 
			 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2004 4 0 0 3 0 0 
			 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2004 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2005 2 0 0 0 18 0 
			 2005 4 0 0 3 6 0 
			 2005 0 18 0 0 12 0 
			 2005 4 0 0 3 10 0 
			 2005 0 33 0 2 0 0 
			 2005 0 27 0 0 18 0 
			 2005 1 11 0 0 18 0 
			 2005 3 0 0 0 21 0 
			 2005 0 15 0 0 6 0 
			 2005 2 0 0 1 8 0 
			 2005 3 6 0 2 6 0 
			 2005 3 6 0 2 0 0 
			 2005 4 0 0 3 3 0 
			 2005 6 0 0 3 4 0 
			 2005 0 8 0 0 0 0 
			 2005 3 0 0 2 6 0 
			 2005 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2005 3 6 0 3 0 0 
			 2005 3 0 0 2 0 0 
			 2005 2 6 0 0 18 0

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 since 1997 have reoffended within a year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The most recent reoffending data for adults were published in 'Reoffending of adults: results from the 2002 cohort' which is available through the Home Office's website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm).
	The report shows the two-year reoffending rates of those offenders who start community penalties or who are discharged from prison in the first quarter of 2002. Further analysis of the 2000 data shows that 27 per cent. of offenders sentenced under section 18 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 reoffended within one year and were subsequently convicted. The corresponding figure for 2002 is 24 per cent. Reoffending data broken down by legislative act is not readily available for other years.

Police Pounds

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to police authorities on the levying of charges on owners for the retrieval of stolen vehicles from police pounds.

Paul Goggins: The police have powers to order the removal of any vehicle that is dangerously, obstructively or illegally parked, broken down or abandoned, including vehicles abandoned after being stolen.
	The Government regard such removals as important for road safety and crime reduction. Before owners can regain any vehicle so removed, they are required by law to pay fees prescribed by the Secretary of State to meet the costs of removal and storage. The Government consider it would not be appropriate for such costs to fall on the public purse. We recognise, however, the concerns that have been expressed by and on behalf of the owners of stolen vehicles who have had to pay for return of their own property. Following lengthy consideration of all the issues, we have reached agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers on recommended best practice in such cases.
	This includes an immediate notification on report of a vehicle theft as to the need to pay the statutory fees when the vehicle is recovered, a follow-up letter with more detailed information and further information and advice on police force websites.

Prisoners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) male and (b) female inmates in prisons in England and Wales are considered to be drug dependent.

Charles Clarke: Epidemiological studies show the proportion of prisoners assessed as showing signs of dependence on entry into custody are on average (a) 51 per cent. of males and (b) 54 per cent. of females.

Prisoners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners underwent treatment for drugs dependence in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales in each of the past five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Figures for prisoners undergoing drug treatment are given in the table. There are no recorded figures prior to 200102. Figures for programme completion were not collected prior to 200405.
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Haltemprice  Howden 
			 CARATs 342 426 274 198 
			 Detox 446 0 0 0 
			 Programmes entrants 32 84 77 74 
			 Completions42 
			  
			 East Riding 
			 CARATs 943 1,527 1,625 1,497 
			 Detox 1,194 1,236 1,676 1,462 
			 Programmes entrants 72 102 95 105 
			 Completions68 
			  
			 England and Wales 
			 CARATs 39,338 51,896 54,125 59,025 
			 Detox 41,765 50,701 57,891 53,903 
			 Programmes entrants 4,691 4386 4,703 7,621 
			 Completions4,902

Prisoners

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners on licence were recalled to prison following a breach of that licence in each of the last eight years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the number of persons recalled to prison (a) from Home Detention Curfew, (b) from licence following determinate sentences of four years or more, and (c) from life licence can be found in tables 10.7 to 10.9 respectively of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/05: Offender Management Caseload Statistics, England and Wales, 2004. Copies of this publication can be found in the House of Commons Library. Information on the number of persons sentenced to less than four years who were not released on Home Detention Curfew and who were recalled to prison from licence between 19992000 and 200405 is provided in the following table. Most of these recalls are not the result of new charges but because of breach of conditions or changed circumstances. The increase reflects a determination to make supervision under licence an effective part of a sentence.
	
		Number of persons sentenced to less than four years who were not released on HDC and who were recalled from licence in each year
		
			  Number recalled 
		
		
			 19992000 38 
			 200001 1,637 
			 200102 3,439 
			 200203 4,950 
			 200304 6,415 
			 200405 6,378

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) probation officer and (b) probation service officers were in post in each probation area at the end of each of the past five financial years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to 1 April 2003 is unreliable, and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented in the tables show full-time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each year from 1 April 2003 and at 30 September 2005.
	
		(a) Probation officers in post by area
		
			  200304 
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset  96.40 112.90 110.40 
			 Bedfordshire  57.30 61.10 62.60 
			 Cambridgeshire  75.50 85.35 75.97 
			 Cheshire  116.10 112.30 114.30 
			 Cumbria  59.90 59.90 56.30 
			 Derbyshire  117.60 106.70 102.70 
			 Devon and Cornwall  136.80 149.35 146.30 
			 Dorset  63.00 68.00 63.10 
			 Durham  72.00 86.50 87.50 
			 Dyfed Powys  46.70 46.30 43.70 
			 Essex  106.00 111.20 117.50 
			 Gloucestershire  52.30 56.40 55.40 
			 Gwent  69.10 68.10 69.20 
			 Hampshire  155.90 173.59 178.60 
			 Hertfordshire  63.70 65.90 71.99 
			 Humberside  121.78 139.78 138.78 
			 Kent  138.35 148.55 154.95 
			 Lancashire  243.20 243.60 246.10 
			 Leicestershire  126.00 125.00 130.70 
			 Lincolnshire  64.20 61.60 60.60 
			 London  795.70 840.50 862.50 
			 Greater Manchester  414.70 399.80 387.58 
			 Merseyside  243.90 241.50 238.44 
			 Norfolk  72.68 76.88 84.18 
			 North Yorkshire  66.20 75.80 75.60 
			 North Wales  58.70 67.10 67.50 
			 Northamptonshire  69.00 65.00 63.00 
			 Northumbria  223.30 252.26 253.10 
			 Nottinghamshire  166.00 171.50 160.90 
			 South Wales  155.60 157.60 172.30 
			 South Yorkshire  183.50 203.00 202.40 
			 Staffordshire  148.70 147.10 146.20 
			 Suffolk  82.25 81.75 85.15 
			 Surrey  56.70 63.90 66.55 
			 Sussex  121.20 123.30 126.60 
			 Teesside  64.60 76.60 74.85 
			 Thames Valley  163.00 176.70 182.00 
			 Warwickshire  55.00 55.00 53.21 
			 West Mercia  123.31 125.46 125.90 
			 West Midlands  374.50 429.20 406.82 
			 West Yorkshire  275.57 310.48 313.86 
			 Wiltshire  41.90 48.90 50.10 
			 Total 5,831.10 5,937.84 6,271.45 6,285.43 
		
	
	
		
			  200405 200506 
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 151.90 148.10 153.70 153.30 154.40 158.80 
			 Bedfordshire 56.40 58.00 61.00 66.00 65.00 63.00 
			 Cambridgeshire 74.90 75.60 78.27 76.27 73.70 77.07 
			 Cheshire 109.60 113.80 113.90 114.65 121.00 134.00 
			 Cumbria 53.60 52.90 57.50 58.00 59.20 56.80 
			 Derbyshire 112.90 125.60 109.20 107.50 108.50 117.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall 141.76 141.60 149.10 150.30 151.10 148.50 
			 Dorset 60.86 62.56 66.79 70.29 67.64 67.43 
			 Durham 87.50 89.50 96.70 95.83 91.50 86.70 
			 Dyfed Powys 43.20 42.70 49.10 46.70 48.10 55.10 
			 Essex 116.80 112.90 120.11 120.20 115.00 111.30 
			 Gloucestershire 55.40 54.99 59.69 59.19 55.76 54.76 
			 Gwent 65.60 65.10 67.30 65.30 52.10 63.10 
			 Hampshire 175.90 168.50 190.40 188.90 179.90 180.70 
			 Hertfordshire 71.99 72.70 71.70 75.10 71.10 70.20 
			 Humberside 135.39 131.89 147.91 147.68 146.91 145.01 
			 Kent 152.15 144.40 146.20 145.53 142.13 132.34 
			 Lancashire 243.50 237.10 253.20 250.40 241.10 238.70 
			 Leicestershire 134.20 140.80 138.20 134.70 136.10 152.50 
			 Lincolnshire 57.60 64.00 63.60 64.40 63.10 70.50 
			 London 864.80 874.60 835.41 834.54 820.07 829.74 
			 Greater Manchester 370.20 373.20 404.40 406.26 402.21 385.81 
			 Merseyside 242.03 237.43 268.43 267.24 264.24 262.20 
			 Norfolk 80.88 77.68 79.85 82.60 80.16 79.89 
			 North Yorkshire 78.30 75.20 88.60 93.60 88.60 79.50 
			 North Wales 71.80 72.80 84.20 83.20 83.70 89.10 
			 Northamptonshire 59.00 65.00 66.63 72.54 70.99 69.91 
			 Northumbria 251.80 274.06 267.95 263.76 259.16 257.20 
			 Nottinghamshire 156.18 168.02 166.11 165.91 161.01 155.60 
			 South Wales 169.60 169.70 195.90 191.48 188.50 213.20 
			 South Yorkshire 196.80 195.50 212.70 208.10 203.90 203.80 
			 Staffordshire 148.40 156.40 152.30 152.70 151.60 165.10 
			 Suffolk 82.25 82.80 83.00 83.40 83.58 80.96 
			 Surrey 62.50 62.10 68.30 66.67 69.85 68.75 
			 Sussex 128.41 127.79 128.74 128.84 129.70 126.51 
			 Teesside 74.35 84.85 87.65 87.24 95.90 95.00 
			 Thames Valley 175.00 169.30 176.40 175.80 164.00 171.40 
			 Warwickshire 52.80 55.15 51.33 52.93 54.06 60.77 
			 West Mercia 121.84 142.58 141.30 138.10 137.10 150.10 
			 West Midlands 403.97 447.50 444.50 446.30 443.50 441.50 
			 West Yorkshire 321.16 320.58 343.37 331.88 335.37 320.56 
			 Wiltshire 44.10 41.50 44.30 43.30 39.30 39.30 
			 Total 6,257.32 6,376.48 6,584.94 6,566.63 6,469.84 6,529.41 
		
	
	
		(b) Probation Service Officers in post by area
		
			  200304 
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset  173.10 218.60 220.60 
			 Bedfordshire  41.81 41.81 39.80 
			 Cambridgeshire  55.90 60.58 65.69 
			 Cheshire  84.10 90.20 88.80 
			 Cumbria  42.48 41.02 38.25 
			 Derbyshire  95.40 104.40 108.20 
			 Devon and Cornwall  151.80 145.71 139.90 
			 Dorset  58.80 59.80 59.49 
			 Durham  97.40 96.80 96.10 
			 Dyfed Powys  36.03 37.00 36.20 
			 Essex  175.90 173.70 168.50 
			 Gloucestershire  40.52 38.58 39.30 
			 Gwent  65.60 67.50 68.80 
			 Hampshire  134.88 130.38 125.40 
			 Hertfordshire  55.80 53.95 52.30 
			 Humberside  107.90 114.23 115.81 
			 Kent  147.78 143.29 149.39 
			 Lancashire  151.50 146.50 146.60 
			 Leicestershire  119.70 137.30 144.75 
			 Lincolnshire  74.50 81.48 81.29 
			 London  617.00 665.50 704.50 
			 Greater Manchester  312.20 322.10 298.06 
			 Merseyside  208.70 211.50 199.07 
			 Norfolk  67.16 79.30 79.20 
			 North Yorkshire  38.00 46.30 40.30 
			 North Wales  77.60 82.60 85.60 
			 Northamptonshire  74.50 69.00 68.00 
			 Northumbria  164.60 167.10 168.10 
			 Nottinghamshire  119.80 122.80 118.00 
			 South Wales  130.70 130.35 138.10 
			 South Yorkshire  184.35 189.70 186.66 
			 Staffordshire  76.00 78.50 80.60 
			 Suffolk  58.42 59.54 61.63 
			 Surrey  82.40 87.00 87.50 
			 Sussex  69.71 88.00 99.70 
			 Teesside  128.60 122.80 122.90 
			 Thames Valley  191.40 204.80 210.20 
			 Warwickshire  29.90 29.70 28.66 
			 West Mercia  80.54 95.11 93.83 
			 West Midlands  238.80 207.20 215.10 
			 West Yorkshire  303.21 317.27 306.95 
			 Wiltshire  39.80 27.00 39.00 
			 Total 4,752.40 5,204.29 5,386.00 5,416.83 
		
	
	
		
			  200405 200506 
			  Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Quarter 1 Quarter 2 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 167.40 162.90 172.90 185.20 191.30 191.30 
			 Bedfordshire 43.80 29.15 27.20 32.20 30.20 31.20 
			 Cambridgeshire 67.06 61.87 66.62 66.41 73.72 77.25 
			 Cheshire 81.20 92.10 83.00 89.98 91.60 107.80 
			 Cumbria 39.25 38.79 41.92 45.11 47.88 48.57 
			 Derbyshire 98.50 105.00 101.70 111.90 113.30 119.00 
			 Devon and Cornwall 136.40 127.50 131.00 140.20 136.60 136.50 
			 Dorset 63.20 59.68 63.80 62.13 61.02 67.99 
			 Durham 98.10 105.70 107.70 117.31 115.93 114.63 
			 Dyfed Powys 37.00 37.40 38.88 39.87 41.11 40.59 
			 Essex 177.50 175.10 185.64 189.90 167.85 173.30 
			 Gloucestershire 38.54 41.96 42.65 41.65 48.04 45.96 
			 Gwent 63.80 67.30 66.50 65.10 75.50 70.10 
			 Hampshire 125.40 126.54 115.40 121.07 147.80 152.20 
			 Hertfordshire 53.30 58.10 58.20 61.90 64.40 64.30 
			 Humberside 133.55 134.17 142.22 141.18 147.62 155.33 
			 Kent 149.15 148.33 149.39 160.83 157.42 155.19 
			 Lancashire 147.80 150.00 145.70 142.65 141.41 144.70 
			 Leicestershire 157.15 174.15 175.40 175.40 185.30 189.90 
			 Lincolnshire 78.48 76.50 74.16 73.96 70.88 72.49 
			 London 695.30 686.30 674.23 707.34 722.61 747.44 
			 Greater Manchester 318.40 321.92 320.36 331.05 342.83 345.79 
			 Merseyside 206.64 207.64 210.21 213.13 214.54 215.87 
			 Norfolk 79.30 80.51 81.28 83.29 87.27 93.56 
			 North Yorkshire 45.60 41.10 41.60 60.10 60.10 . 50.26 
			 North Wales 82.40 74.20 73.80 80.20 81.60 74.80 
			 Northamptonshire 69.00 69.00 61.54 63.44 61.54 60.09 
			 Northumbria 165.70 168.10 167.10 170.10 171.10 174.10 
			 Nottinghamshire 131.86 143.41 164.81 167.90 177.07 180.00 
			 South Wales 131.50 147.40 158.10 160.30 165.80 166.90 
			 South Yorkshire 187.70 203.32 205.80 207.40 208.00 212.40 
			 Staffordshire 82.60 82.70 90.10 91.00 91.10 92.50 
			 Suffolk 52.60 53.33 63.44 70.67 70.56 76.20 
			 Surrey 87.30 97.50 100.70 106.90 111.75 113.10 
			 Sussex 111.94 108.37 116.11 125.00 124.06 135.79 
			 Teesside 123.20 123.10 122.80 125.47 133.00 132.40 
			 Thames Valley 198.35 203.85 213.00 215.70 215.90 212.70 
			 Warwickshire 30.20 32.38 33.97 35.15 36.19 33.88 
			 West Mercia 91.83 100.11 93.70 101.00 99.90 98.30 
			 West Midlands 279.22 260.90 290.10 327.40 337.40 360.57 
			 West Yorkshire 303.05 296.98 308.63 302.40 301.75 311.95 
			 Wiltshire 37.50 37.30 42.50 41.10 42.10 42.10 
			 Total 5,467.77 5,511.66 5,623.86 5,849.99 5,965.05 6,089.00

Probation Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters relating to (a) the probation service and (b) the Prison Service in Wales are reserved matters.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 6 February 2006
	The probation service and the Prison Service are not devolved. However the National Offender Management Service works closely with the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of any activity that touches on devolved matters (such as health services in prison), and under the Children Act 2004 the Assembly will be able, with the consent of the Home Secretary, to issue guidance to local probation boards and youth offending teams on co-operating with other public bodies in their area with a view to improving the well-being of children.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of staff were employed in an operational capacity within the National Probation Service in England and Wales at the end of each of the past five financial years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to one April 2003 is unreliable, and is not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. The figures presented in the table show the proportion of staff, in terms of full time equivalent value, employed in an operational capacity at the close of each quarter from one April 2003 to 30 September 2005.
	Operational staff in the National Probation Service operate in multi-disciplinary teams including dedicated support staff. For this reason figures have been provided showing both the number of operational staff, and the number of support staff dedicated to operational service teams. The total of these two staff groups gives an accurate representation of the total resource applied to operational services. The total of these two staff groups gives an accurate representation of the total resource applied to operational services.
	
		
			  Operational staff Support staff (Ops Services) Total operational staff Ops staff as percentage of total staff 
		
		
			 200304 
			 Quarter 1 12,869.70 3,391.50 16,261.20 91.60 
			 Quarter 2 13,419.39 13,312.22 16,731.61 91.57 
			 Quarter 3 14,208.52 3,432.64 17,641.16 92.05 
			 Quarter 4 14,249.91 3,428.66 17,678.57 92.10 
			 200405 
			 Quarter 1 14,142.25 3,421.75 17,564.00 91.98 
			 Quarter 2 14,086.67 3,423.60 17,510.27 91.84 
			 Quarter 3 14,559.93 3,292.28 17,852.21 91.44 
			 Quarter 4 14,765.00 3,317.90 18,082.90 91.53 
			 200506 
			 Quarter 1 14,708.01 3,442.44 18,150.45 91.41 
			 Quarter 2 14,781.50 3,549.77 18,331.27 91.22

Prostitution/Alcohol-related Arrests

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people in (a) Romford and (b) Havering were arrested for offences relating to prostitution in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many alcohol-related arrests have been made in (a) Romford, (b) Havering and (c) London since 24-hour licensing began; and how many such arrests were made in the same period in 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested on arrests is not available centrally. Information on arrests collected is based on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by main offence group (ie sexual offences, violence against the person, burglary etc.) and at police force area only and therefore does not identify individual offences or circumstances nor constituency areas or local authorities.

Prostitution/Alcohol-related Arrests

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many brothels in (a) Romford and (b) Havering have been closed in the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not held centrally. However, the Metropolitan Police Clubs and Vice Unit (CO14) advise that, during that period, three brothels have been closed in separate investigations in the areas covered by Romford and Havering, and a number of other brothels have been closed in the same area as a result of three major operations.

Racial and Religious Hatred

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government plan to take to ensure that no undue arrests are made under the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill once that Bill becomes law.

Paul Goggins: The question of arrests under the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill when it is brought into force will be entirely a matter for the police. The Home Office will issue guidance for the police and other criminal justice agencies prior to commencement.

Racial and Religious Hatred

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what post-legislative work has been planned to assess the effectiveness of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.

Paul Goggins: Like all new offences, operation of the new offence of incitement to religious hatred will be monitored by the Home Office and criminal justice agencies. We intend to conduct a preliminary review of the effectiveness of the legislation one year after commencement, with a full review three years after commencement. Records will be maintained of the number of prosecutions and convictions for the new offence.

Racial and Religious Hatred

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition he uses of recklessness in the context of religious hatred.

Paul Goggins: The Government's Racial and Religious Hatred Bill, as amended by Parliament on 31 January, does not contain a recklessness provision. The proposed offence of incitement to religious hatred is now limited to words or behaviour that are intended to stir up religious hatred.

Real Women Programme

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to roll out the Real Women Programme for sentencing following its pilot in 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Real Women Programme (now called The Women's Programme) was fully accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation Panel(CSAP) in December 2004. It has been rolled out and is available as a sentencing option in the probation areas of South Wales, Hertfordshire and West Midlands. Leicestershire and Rutland Probation Area and London Probation Area are in the process of implementing the programme. We expect that more probation areas will use the programme in 200607.

Residential Care Staff (Vetting)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applying for positions within residential care and nursing homes in (a) Tamworth, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England are awaiting clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Andy Burnham: The information requested by the hon. Member for Tamworth is not available. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is unable to provide information on Disclosure applications based on specific employment sectors or geographical areas. The CRB aims to complete Disclosure applications across all sectors within the shortest time possible. Its published service standards are to issue 93 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within two weeks and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within four weeks for all applications.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward measures to clarify criminal law on the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government are working with the Crown Prosecution Service to produce guidance on this aspect of the law for prosecutors and for the public.

Student Visas

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries, or parts of countries, from which students with student visas are required to report changes of residence; and how many such changes in residence were reported to each police centre in the last two complete academic years.

Tony McNulty: The position has not changed since my earlier answer to my hon. Friend on 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 142.

War Criminals

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how often the EU network of contacts established to exchange information to help investigate and prosecute suspected war criminals has met with a view to exchanging information about experiences, practices and methods, pursuant to Article 5 of the Council Decision of 8 May 2003 (2003/335/JHA); and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the (a) operation and (b) effectiveness of the European network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; and if he will make a statement
	(3)  if he will list the EU network of contact points established to exchange information to help investigate and prosecute suspected war criminals in accordance with European Council Decision of 13 June 2002 (2002/494/JHA).

Andy Burnham: The European network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes has met twice, on 2324 November 2004 and 2829 June 2005. A further meeting is planned during the Austrian presidency of the European Union. UK representatives who have attended meetings of the network have found it helpful in establishing contacts with foreign authorities responsible for investigating these offences. The current list of contact points has not been made public.

Work Permits

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006, Official Report, columns 179192W, on work permits, if he will break down each figure given by type of application.

Tony McNulty: The tables show the number of permits approved for posts in the health and medical industry for each month in 2004 and 2005 broken down by country and type of application. The table one details the figures for 2004 and table two details the figures for 2005. This data is not provided under National Statistics protocols. It has been derived from local management information and is therefore provisional and subject to change. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Work Permits

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were granted to health workers from overseas in each year between 1997 and 2003, broken down by (a) country of origin and (b) applications (i) made overseas, (ii) made in-country, (iii) for extensions and (iv) for change of employment.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 February 2006
	The table shows the number of permits approved for posts in the health and medical industry for each year between 1997 and 2003 broken down by country and type of application. This data is not provided under National Statistics protocols. It has been derived from local management information and is therefore provisional and subject to change. A copy of the table will be placed in the Library.

Young Offenders

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests of minors were made in Wales in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information available on arrests of minors in Wales is given in the table.
	
		Number of persons aged 1017 arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences), Wales
		
			  Total notifiable offences 
		
		
			 200001(49) 15,817 
			 200102(49) 16,021 
			 200203 19,446 
			 200304 19,930 
			 200405 19,135 
		
	
	(49) Gwent was unable to supply arrests data by age group and therefore excluded from the total.

HEALTH

Fuel for Living Booklet

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been of the development of the Fuel for Living booklet; how many copies of the booklet will be published; at what cost; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The cost of developing the Fuel for Living recipe booklet was 27,000. One million copies of the booklet have been produced at a cost of 58,500.
	The Fuel for Living recipe booklet is part of the 5 A DAY campaign, which provides information and practical advice to improve the diet. The booklet targets the young independent group of 16 to 24-year-olds, who have a lower than average intake of fruit and vegetables so there is a need to provide information and help to improve their diet.

Health Reform in England; Update and Next Steps

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of the proposed NHS reforms outlined in Health Reform in England; update and next steps, whether practice based contracting will apply to all care or only to non-hospital care.

Liam Byrne: The only services that are outside the scope of practice based commissioning for 200607 are services that are commissioned regionally or nationally and core general practitioner services.

ADHD

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will list the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder support groups which receive funding from the NHS; and how much each has received in 200506;
	(2)  what recent discussions have taken place between her Department and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder support groups.

Liam Byrne: Information about national health service support for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder support groups is not collected centrally. However, the Department currently supports one attention deficit hyperactivity disorder support group via the section 64 grant scheme. In 200506, the National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service are receiving 40,000 as a contribution towards their central administrative costs.

Adverse Drug Reactions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patient reports of adverse drug reactions have been received (a) online and (b) through a yellow card form in each month since patients were permitted to report adverse drug reactions directly.

Jane Kennedy: Reports of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the yellow card scheme.
	Following recommendations from an independent review of access to the yellow card scheme, patients and their representatives are now encouraged to report suspected adverse drug reactions directly to the MHRA and CHM. Direct reporting from patients was launched as a small-scale pilot in January 2005 and expanded to a United Kingdom-wide pilot in October 2005. Patients are able to submit reports both electronically and via a purpose designed paper yellow card.
	The table shows the total number of patient adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received each month between 17 January 2005 and 31 December 2005, along with a breakdown of the number of paper and electronic internet reports.
	
		Number of ADR reports received from patients between 17 January and 31 December 2005
		
			 Received month (2005) Total Paper yellow card Internet yellow card 
		
		
			 January 31 3 28 
			 February 58 30 28 
			 March 70 42 28 
			 April 82 48 34 
			 May 63 31 32 
			 June 67 33 34 
			 July 60 28 32 
			 August 129 27 102 
			 September 73 27 46 
			 October(50) 69 22 47 
			 November 79 38 41 
			 December 169 134 35 
		
	
	(50) UK-wide direct patient reporting was launched on 25 October 2005
	It is important to note that the submission of a suspected ADR report does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships, including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.

Alcohol Consumption

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the effects of drinking alcohol (a) socially and (b) alone; and what assessment she has made of the different effects of drinking particular alcoholic drinks.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not made an assessment of the effects of drinking alcohol socially versus alone or of the different effects of drinking particular alcoholic drinks.
	Sensible Drinking: Report of an inter-departmental working group (1995) sets out the Department's guidance on alcohol consumption and suggests:
	A maximum intake of two to three units per day for women and three to four for men, with two alcohol free days after heavy drinking; continued alcohol consumption at the upper level is not advised.
	The Department keeps the evidence of the harmful effects of alcohol under ongoing review to ensure messages are accurate and up to date.

Alcohol Dependence

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department estimates to be the prevalence service utilisation ratio for alcohol-dependent individuals accessing treatment in (a) England and (b) each region.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The Government's alcohol needs assessment research project (ANARP) research, published in November 2005, estimates the gap between those alcohol-dependent individuals seeking treatment and the level of treatment services that is available.
	The prevalence service utilisation ratio for alcohol-dependent individuals accessing treatment in England and each region is shown in the table.
	
		England
		
			  Gender Prevalence service utilisation in need of treatment/in treatment 
		
		
			 Male 20.8 
			 Female 12.4 
			 All (Average) Regions 18.0 
			 East Midlands 15.7 
			 Eastern 31.2 
			 London 13.2 
			 North East 101.9 
			 North West 11.8 
			 South East 20.2 
			 South West 14.3 
			 West Midlands 15.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 46.0

Alimta

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of Alimta on the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: Alimta is licensed for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma and can be prescribed across the national health Service for those patients who fit the licensed criteria with the agreement of the clinicians and primary care trusts (PCTs) concerned.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is appraising Alimta for the treatment of mesothelioma and guidance is expected in October 2006.
	Funding for licensed treatments should not be withheld because guidance from NICE is unavailable. In these circumstances, we expect PCTs to take full account of available evidence when reaching funding decisions. This is confirmed in Health Service Circular 1999/176, which asks NHS bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not available at the time the treatment or technology first became available.

Analogue Hearing Aids

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners use analogue hearing aids.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

Brazilian Beef

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the amount of Brazilian beef procured for NHS establishments in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The expenditure through framework agreements established by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency for Brazilian beef have led to purchases by the national health service from November 2004 through to October 2005 of 7,700.

Capio Healthcare UK

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 1293W, on Capio Healthcare UK, whether Dr. Thomas Mann was involved in the evaluation of bids for contracts for the provision of treatment centres or other surgical activity; whether Dr. Mann has been employed by her Department in any capacity since leaving the civil service; and in what capacity Dr. Mann was employed between the time he left the post of director of the national implementation team and the time he left the civil service.

Liam Byrne: As director of the national implementation team, Dr. Mann was responsible for the oversight of the evaluation of bids for independent sector treatment centres by subject-matter specialists. Dr. Mann left this post in October 2003 and was thereafter strategic lead on clinical service issues for the implementation team until he left the employment of the civil service in February 2004. From 31 March 2004 until 27 May 2005, Dr. Mann worked on a consultancy basis for the Department's commercial directorate and was not responsible for the evaluation of bids for the provision of independent section treatment centres.

Care Homes

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care home beds in (a) Greater London, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon and (c) Uxbridge are operated (i) privately and (ii) by local authorities.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the number of care home beds in Greater London and the London borough of Hillingdon, which includes Uxbridge, is as shown in the tables.
	
		Care homes in Greater London by capacity and ownership type at 1 January 2006
		
			 Owner type Number of homes Number of beds 
		
		
			 Independent (private) 1,163 25,698 
			 Local authority 113 2,652 
			 NHS 24 234 
			 Voluntary 694 10,841 
			 Other 19 369 
		
	
	
		Care homes in Hillingdon borough (including Uxbridge) by capacity and ownership type at 1 January 2006
		
			 Owner type Number of homes Number of beds 
		
		
			 Independent (private) 30 1,008 
			 Local authority 6 82 
			 Voluntary 15 109 
		
	
	Note:
	Data from CSCI registration and inspection database at 30 January 2006

Care Homes

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health is she will establish a central record of mortality in respect of care homes residents, with particular reference to those residents who are moved consequent on closure of a care home; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Under the Care Home Regulation 2001, care homes have a duty to notify the Commission for Social Care Inspection of deaths, illness and other events that occur to residents.
	I understand from the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspections (CSCI), that CSCI has a central database that records the death of residents in care homes and can track the number of deaths at a specific care home, but is unable to identify mortality rates in relation to the closure of a care home.
	The Government have already announced a review of the national minimum standards and accompanying regulations and a full consultation exercise will be conducted.

Carers

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance and advice her Department provides for carers of elderly people in their own homes; where carers can obtain such guidance; and if she will place copies in the Library.

Liam Byrne: The Department published a book entitled 'Who cares? Information and support for the carers of people with dementia' as well as a leaflet entitled 'How to get help in looking after someone'. Both publications are available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/36/29/04123629.pdf and www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/02/37/04080237.pdf or ordered from the Department's orderline at P.O. Box 777, London SE1 6XH telephone: 08701 555455. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.
	In addition, the Department provides information and useful links for carers and those working with them on their website at www.carers.gov.uk

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department is making towards establishing high-street drop-in centres for chiropody.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 February 2006
	The White Paper, Our health, our care, our say, sets out the future direction for healthcare, including access to allied health professions (AHPs). The implementation will address additional access for AHP services including chiropody.

Choose and Book System

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the infrastructure of choose and book in (a) 200405 and (b) 200506 to date.

Liam Byrne: The cost of the central infrastructure of choose and book was 12.7 million in 200405 and 5.4 million in 200506 to date.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions her Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury.

Liam Byrne: Officials have not reported using citizen juries during the period specified. However, the Department does use a wide range of consultation methods to inform policy-making. For example, the recent consultation exercise leading up to the publication of the White Paper Our health, our care, our say involved a number of deliberative events which brought together ordinary members of the public to debate policy options. The outputs of these discussions strongly influenced the policy choices put forward in the final document.

Civil Servants (Overseas Visits)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what costs were incurred by her Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Civil Service Relocation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental civil service jobs have been relocated to Scotland in each year since 2001.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 1 February 2006
	No departmental civil service jobs from the Department have been relocated to Scotland in the period since 2001.

Clinical Guidelines

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will issue the NHS with a statutory direction to fund clinical guidelines.

Jane Kennedy: I have no plans to issue such a direction.

Communication Aid Equipment

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to provide statutory funding for the provision of communication aid equipment.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs) and local councils receive substantial funding from Government each year. Within those allocations, it is for local PCTs and councils to fund and provide appropriate communication aids for their population through their integrated community equipment services in the light of local needs and priorities.

Compensation Claims

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to public funds has been of claims for compensation from the NHS in each year since 1998.

Jane Kennedy: Information requested on the cost to public funds for all types of compensation claims from the national health service is not identifiable from NHS annual expenditure returns. Compensation payments made by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) are, however, identifiable and are shown in the following table.
	
		Compensation paid by NHS Litigation Authority by scheme
		
			 000 
			  199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts 229 4,783 22,521 (51)201,869 175,277 293,384 329,412 
			 Existing Liabilities Scheme 55,926 264,584 (51)842,093 343,242 269,345 128,071 169,414 
			 Ex-Regional Health Authority Scheme 13,921 7,989 7,372 3,832 1,562 1,059 4,068 
			 Total (52)70,076 (52)277,356 (52)871,986 (52)548,943 446,184 422,514 502,894 
			 
			 Liabilities for Third Parties Scheme(52) n/a 31 551 3,112 14,480 (53)7,395 21,280 
			 Property Expenses Scheme n/a 359 429 1,931 6,866 2,735 3,839 
			 Total 0 390 980 5,043 21,346 10,130 25,119 
		
	
	(51) Amount reimbursed to trusts as part of the call-in and included within Existing Liabilities Scheme/Clinical Negligence Scheme for trusts payments.
	(52) NHS bodies liable for an excess element not included in these totals.
	(53) The apparent drop in payments under the Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme in 200304 was due to a change in invoicing policy by the NHSLA.

Computer Equipment

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department has given to local authorities on the purchase and use of washable keyboards, mice and keyboard readers; and what encouragement her Department has offered them to purchase such items.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The purchase of computer equipment is a local responsibility. We do not endorse particular products and such products cannot replace standard infection control measures such as hand hygiene. However, manufacturers can choose to submit their products that may contribute to infection prevention and control to the rapid review panel (RRP) for consideration. The RRP was set up to assess new and novel products that may help to improve infection control and reduce rates of healthcare associated infections. The RRP's recommendations are available on the Health Protection Agency's website at www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/rapid_review?default.htm and can help inform national health service purchasing decisions.

Cystic Fibrosis

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to exempt cystic fibrosis sufferers from prescription charges.

Jane Kennedy: We have no plans to extend the existing list of medical conditions that give exemption from prescription charges.
	The extensive exemption and change remission arrangements mean that 87 per cent. of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge. As a result, many people with medical conditions not on the exempt list already get free prescriptions on other grounds. Anyone in work may claim help through the national health service low income scheme.
	Prescription charges are currently being looked at by the Health Select Committee as part of its inquiry into NHS charges.

Dentistry

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase access to NHS dentistry in North Yorkshire; and how many additional places have been made available since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 June 2005
	In September 2004, there were 794,177 patients registered with a national health service dentists in the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire strategic health authority (SHA) area, compared with 906,871 in September 1997.
	In 200405, 1.3 million of access money for NHS dental services was made available to primary care trusts (PCTs) in the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA area. The four PCTs within the North Yorkshire region are using this money to make available an additional 50,000 patient registrations.
	Four Polish dentists are providing services to NHS dental patients in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT and a further nine internationally-recruited dentists are working in the Selby and York PCT area. Furthermore, 0.9 whole time equivalent dentists have returned to work under the Keeping in Touch scheme.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of maintaining her main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: The cost of the Department's corporate website (www.dh.gov.uk) and sub domain sites (www.info.doh.gov.uk, www.publications.doh.gov.uk, www.performance.doh.gov.uk and www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk) for the year 200405 was 724,956. These figures include hosting and maintenance, development and dedicated staff costs, using agreed civil service staff costs, including salaries, common services, etc.
	The total number of visits to the main Department of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk) for the period January to December 2005 was 16,796,568. There were on average 871,497 unique users per month. The figures broken down by calendar month are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Date Visits Unique users 
		
		
			 January 2005 1,450,700 897,192 
			 February 2005 1,370,404 868,740 
			 March 2005 1,567,241 972,913 
			 April 2005 1,612,489 982,772 
			 May 2005 1,462,105 889,320 
			 June 2005 1,326,932 791,278 
			 July 2005 1,238,586 726,929 
			 August 2005 1,246,380 762,351 
			 September 2005 1,547,505 1,018,882 
			 October 2005 1,525,800 968,917 
			 November 2005 1,382,912 877,830 
			 December 2005 1,065,514 700,836 
			 Total 16,796,568 10,457,960 
			
			 Average per month 1,399,714 871,497

Diamorphine

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the stocks of diamorphine in England were in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available;
	(2)  what steps her Department has taken over the last 12 months to address shortages of diamorphine;
	(3)  what guidance her Department has issued to health professionals over the last 12 months regarding the use of diamorphine.

Jane Kennedy: Overall demand for diamorphine has exceeded supply to such an extent that at no time have significant stocks accumulated within the supply chain.
	As soon as it became aware that one of the two United Kingdom suppliers of diamorphine was experiencing problems, the Department, with the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) made arrangements for the other supplier to maximise its production, contacted the suppliers of morphine and other opiates to arrange for them to increase production, explored the possibility of obtaining diamorphine from abroad and routinely monitored production of the two suppliers against historic demand, and ensured as far as possible that supplies were available where needed.
	On 23 December 2004, the Department issued an alert to the national health service warning healthcare professionals about the shortage of diamorphine and advising them to consider alternative painkillers wherever possible, and to reserve supplies for those patients whose need was greatest. The alert also included interim clinical guidance which was subsequently updated by the Association for Palliative Medicine. Additional guidance for doctors managing patients dependent on diamorphine was issued on 30 December 2004. The Department has also been in regular contact with healthcare professionals and has issued updates to them on the supply situation.
	Diamorphine is now available from both Wockhardt UK and Chiron but supplies are still limited and are likely to remain so for the coming months. The Department is continuing to monitor the situation carefully.

Disabled People (Independent Living)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the consultation referred to in Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People on whether people should have a right to request not to live in residential or nursing care; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 February 2006
	Consultation on whether people should have the right to request not to live in residential or nursing care was included in the adult social care Green Paper Independence Well-being and Choice: our vision for the future of social care for adults in England which ran between 21 March and 28 July 2005.
	An analysis of this consultation was published on 19 October 2005 and is available in the Library.

Domiciliary Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people over the age of 65 years were supported to live at home in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of older people aged 65 or over helped to live at home in England and each strategic health authority as at 31 March, for the years 199899 to 200405 is shown in the table.
	Following the last spending review, the Department was expected to ensure that, by March 2006, the number of older people supported intensively to live at home increased to 30 per cent. of the total being supported by social services at home or in residential care. This target was met two years early, in 200304, when the national average reached 30.1 per cent.
	
		Number of older people aged 65 or over helped to live at home(54) by strategic health authority (SHA), 199899 to 200405(55)England
		
			 Rounded numbers 
			  199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405(56) 
		
		
			 England total 637,600 662,000 649,700 660,200 660,700 662,000 641,900 
			 
			 SHA
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 23,900 31,300 30,100 27,300 26,100 26,300 23,200 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 11,700 12,000 13,700 14,800 15,000 19,000 16,800 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 35,000 32,400 29,700 30,900 28,300 26,500 24,400 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 27,100 29,800 32,700 34,800 34,400 35,300 34,900 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 15,100 17,500 15,100 17,000 17,200 17,400 18,700 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 25,300 22,700 22,600 25,300 26,300 25,000 25,300 
			 Dorset and Somerset 17,100 15,100 18,200 19,000 17,500 18,500 17,100 
			 Essex 14,000 36,600 15,500 17,400 20,400 23,300 26,700 
			 Greater Manchester 38,300 42,900 40,000 42,400 37,800 37,300 36,300 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 17,200 17,300 15,200 23,800 19,600 23,800 23,900 
			 Kent and Medway 19,000 15,100 15,500 16,800 20,700 22,500 18,600 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 16,000 17,400 16,100 18,000 18,700 19,100 20,600 
			 N and E Yorkshire and N Lincolnshire 21,000 13,300 20,900 23,100 25,700 24,700 24,600 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 20,700 22,000 20,700 23,900 24,800 26,800 29,100 
			 North Central London 12,500 13,300 12,500 14,900 14,200 13,400 11,900 
			 North East London 26,100 22,000 16,400 17,600 18,000 18,000 19,000 
			 North West London 22,900 20,400 19,400 18,100 18,900 20,400 19,400 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 25,200 30,300 30,100 27,500 29,100 28,200 25,700 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 22,000 28,600 30,000 20,800 21,000 21,000 26,700 
			 South East London 21,800 23,500 21,400 20,700 20,600 19,200 18,600 
			 South West London 17,100 17,100 17,600 17,300 17,100 16,300 14,000 
			 South West Peninsula 19,100 21,100 22,500 24,500 26,700 23,200 22,000 
			 South Yorkshire 16,300 23,900 23,000 19,300 19,300 17,100 18,100 
			 Surrey and Sussex 26,700 28,400 34,200 33,400 30,000 27,700 21,700 
			 Thames Valley 22,100 17,300 18,500 19,900 17,700 19,000 17,500 
			 Trent 50,700 43,600 48,500 42,800 39,400 37,400 34,800 
			 West Midlands South 15,500 13,300 16,100 15,600 19,900 20,200 19,300 
			 West Yorkshire 37,900 33,600 33,500 33,200 36,300 35,300 33,000 
		
	
	(54) Helped to live at home by means of any service recorded on Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) return P2s. This includes planned short term breaks, direct payments, professional support, transport and equipment and adaptations as well as home care, day care and meals services. Data for 199899 on this basis are estimated as are data for 19992000 for around a quarter of the 150 local authorities.
	(55) Data as at March each year. Data for 199798 has been excluded as it is not comparable with later years.
	(56) Data on the number of people helped to live at home in 200405 is not comparable to data for previous years. In 200405 restated guidance was issued to exclude people receiving services from grant-funded organisations who had not had a community care assessment.
	Source:
	KS1 and RAP proforma P2s

Drug Costs

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many fees have been paid to pharmacists for each price category of (a) amlodipine, (b) simvastatin and (c) lisinopril (i) in each month of the last three financial years and (ii) to date in 200506; what the value was of each fee; and what the total payment was for each month for each price category of each drug;
	(2)  when (a) amlodipine, (b) simvastatin and (c) lisinopril went out of patent;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the generic rates payable for (a) amlodipine, (b) simvastatin and (c) lisinopril since each drug went out of patent;
	(4)  what steps she plans to take to ensure that when drugs are out of patent fees are paid at a generic rate rather than a branded rate; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Data on the number of prescriptions and costs is recorded on a quarterly rather than monthly basis and is only currently available for the period up to September 2005. Table one, provides the number of items prescribed and their net ingredient cost for each of the medicines in each quarter. The drug tariff prices for each of these medicines during the period in question are provided in table two.
	Data held by the Department records the following expiry dates for amlodipine, simvastatin and lisinopril:
	AmlodipineMarch 2004
	SimvastatinMay 2003
	LisinoprilOctober 2002
	The reimbursement prices for generic simvastatin and lisinopril followed the usual procedure and timeframe, moving from category C, reimbursement price based on a brand, to category A, reimbursement price based on a basket of generic suppliers, when the generic became available. However, it became apparent that there were significant differences between these generic reimbursement prices and the prices at which they could be purchased by community pharmacy contractors and dispensing doctors. These differences would normally be recovered by a discount inquiry, but these medicines entered the market after the last inquiry. Therefore, following a consultation, the Government reduced the prices of these medicines on two occasions; the first with effect from 1 December 2003 and the second with effect from September 2004.
	Following patent expiry of amlodipine, the Department followed the usual procedure for setting a generic reimbursement price moving from category C to category A. However, the entry of amlodipine into category M was delayed 1 October 2005 by supply side instability.
	The Department has already taken considerable action to ensure that off patent medicines are reimbursed appropriately. Following an unexpected increase in prices in 1999, the Department introduced a short term maximum price scheme whilst undertaking a wider consultation on the arrangements for the future supply and reimbursement of national health service generic medicines. Taking account of responses to this consultation, as part introduced a new category M into the drug tariff in April 2005 based on a new mechanism for setting reimbursement prices of commonly prescribed generics. The prices of category M medicines now reflect the average manufacturers' market prices after discount, but leave a margin of unrecovered discount as part of pharmacy funding. The prices for category M are recalculated quarterly.
	
		Table 1: Number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of Amlodipine, Lisinopril and Simvastatin dispensed in the community in England. Quarterly data
		
			  2002 2003 
			  April-June July-September October-December January-March April-June July-September October-December 
		
		
			 Number of prescription items (thousand) 
			 Amlodipine 1,695.7 1,728.9 1,790.3 1,747.0 1,830.4 1,872.9 1,943.4 
			 Lisinopril 1,558.5 1,578.3 1,612.9 1,550.8 1,606.6 1,634.2 1,669.3 
			 Simvastatin 1,712.9 1,859.6 2,005.6 2,043.2 2,239.8 2,435.7 2,652.7 
			 Net ingredient cost ( thousand) 
			 Amlodipine 34,758.0 35,400.4 36,683.9 35,655.5 37,214.3 40,500.6 43,337.6 
			 Lisinopril 21,925.4 22,288.1 22,871.3 21,039.9 20,866.6 20,209.5 18,254.5 
			 Simvastatin 61,003.7 66,808.5 72,698.8 74,423.1 81,742.0 81,890.8 71,024.2 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 2005 
			  January-March April-June July-September October-December January-March April-June July-September 
		
		
			 Number of prescription items (thousand) 
			 Amlodipine 1,934.5 2,010.8 2,073.1 2,173.5 2,138.5 2,287.9 2,354.5 
			 Lisinopril 1,639.6 1,684.3 1,717.9 1,763.6 1,694.6 1,788.0 1,808.4 
			 Simvastatin 2,756.3 3,018.4 3,297.9 3,608.4 3,623.1 3,966.3 4,272.2 
			 Net ingredient cost ( thousand) 
			 Amlodipine 42,947.8 42,188.3 40,534.5 37,345.3 35,521.5 36,328.2 36,671.9 
			 Lisinopril 15,698.4 16,077.2 14,703.7 11,705.8 11,192.3 5,965.0 5,365.3 
			 Simvastatin 63,548.2 69,749.3 66,109.1 51,471.9 51,814.6 20,572.1 15,940.2 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Reimbursement prices (pence)
		
			  2002 
			 Drug Pack April May June July August September October November December 
		
		
			 Amlodipine 5mg Tablets 28 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 
			 Amlodipine l0mg Tablets 28 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 
			 Lisinopril 2.5mg Tablets 28 626 626 626 626 626 626 626 626 626 
			 Lisinopril 5mg Tablets 28 786 786 786 786 786 786 786 786 786 
			 Lisinopril l0mg Tablets 28 970 970 970 970 970 970 970 970 970 
			 Lisinopril 20mg Tablets 28 1,097 1,097 1,097 1,097 1,097 1,097 1,097 1,097 1,097 
			 Simvastatin l0mg Tablets 28 1,803 1803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 
			 Simvastatin 20mg Tablets 28 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2969 
			 Simvastatin 40mg Tablets 28 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 
			 Simvastatin 80mg Tablets 28 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 
		
	
	
		
			  2003 
			 Drug Pack January February March April May June July August September October November December 
		
		
			 Amlodipine 5mg Tablets 28 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,185 1,304 1,304 1,304 1,304 1,304 
			 Amlodipine l0mg Tablets 28 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,770 1,947 1,947 1,947 1,947 1,947 
			 Lisinopril 2.5mg Tablets 28 616 608 595 582 571 571 560 550 539 526 514 375 
			 Lisinopril 5mg Tablets 28 773 764 752 736 720 720 708 696 670 666 649 495 
			 Lisinopril l0mg Tablets 28 954 942 930 914 898 898 884 860 846 840 823 677 
			 Lisinopril 20mg Tablets 28 1,079 1,066 1,054 1,035 1,012 1,012 998 978 957 951 936 750 
			 Simvastatin l0mg Tablets 28 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,803 1,659 1,630 1,518 1,456 1,199 
			 Simvastatin 20mg Tablets 28 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,692 2,614 2,421 2,307 1,600 
			 Simvastatin 40mg Tablets 28 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,809 2,774 2,681 2,620 2,100 
			 Simvastatin 80mg Tablets 28 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,969 2,908 2,908 2,877 2,877 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 
			 Drug Pack January February March April May June July August September October November December 
		
		
			 Amlodipine 5mg Tablets 28 1,304 1,304 1,304 1,304 1,304 1,304 1,211 1,167 1,092 1,056 1,004 1,284 
			 Amlodipine l0mg Tablets 28 1,947 1,947 1,947 1,947 1,947 1,947 1,792 1,727 1,583 1,534 1,445 926 
			 Lisinopril 2.5mg Tablets 28 375 375 375 375 375 375 375 375 289 289 289 289 
			 Lisinopril 5mg Tablets 28 495 495 495 495 495 495 495 495 347 347 347 347 
			 Lisinopril l0mg Tablets 28 677 677 677 677 677 677 677 677 404 404 404 404 
			 Lisinopril 20mg Tablets 28 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 549 549 549 549 
			 Simvastatin l0mg Tablets 28 1,199 1,199 1,199 1,199 1,199 1,199 1,199 1,199 578 578 578 578 
			 Simvastatin 20mg Tablets 28 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600 780 780 780 780 
			 Simvastatin 40mg Tablets 28 2,100 2,100 2,100 2,100 2,100 2,100 2,100 2,100 1,560 1,560 1,560 1,560 
			 Simvastatin 80mg Tablets 28 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,877 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 
			 Drug Pack January February March April May June July August September October November December 
		
		
			 Amlodipine 5mg Tablets 28 870 962 889 889 889 889 889 889 889 548 548 548 
			 Amlodipine l0mg Tablets 28 1,233 1,362 1,225 1,225 1,225 1,225 1,225 1,225 1,225 796 796 796 
			 Lisinopril 2.5mg Tablets 28 289 289 289 176 176 176 117 117 117 130 130 130 
			 Lisinopril 5mg Tablets 28 347 347 347 198 198 198 134 134 134 155 155 155 
			 Lisinopril l0mg Tablets 28 404 404 404 178 178 178 170 170 170 198 198 198 
			 Lisinopril 20mg Tablets 28 549 549 549 243 243 243 222 222 222 268 268 268 
			 Simvastatin 10mg Tablets 28 578 578 578 212 212 212 165 165 165 175 175 175 
			 Simvastatin 20mg Tablets 28 780 780 780 226 226 226 148 148 148 179 179 179 
			 Simvastatin 40mg Tablets 28 1,560 1,560 1,560 487 487 487 357 357 357 414 414 414 
			 Simvastatin 80mg Tablets 28 2,877 2,877 2,877 2,679 2,679 2,679 2,029 2,029 2,029 2,572 2,572 2,572 
		
	
	
		
			   2006 
			 Drug Pack January February 
		
		
			 Amlodipine 5mg Tablets 28 540 540 
			 Amlodipine l0mg Tablets 28 782 782 
			 Lisinopril 2.5mg Tablets 28 130 130 
			 Lisinopril 5mg Tablets 28 154 154 
			 Lisinopril l0mg Tablets 28 198 198 
			 Lisinopril 20mg Tablets 28 268 268 
			 Simvastatin 10mg Tablets 28 175 175 
			 Simvastatin 20mg Tablets 28 171 171 
			 Simvastatin 40mg Tablets 28 389 389 
			 Simvastatin 80mg Tablets 28 2,529 2,529

Drug Treatment Programmes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have successfully completed a drug treatment programme in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: There are no exact published numbers for the number of people successfully completing treatment prior to 200304. In 200304, 90,500 persons successfully completed treatment and in 200405 there were 120,700.

Easington Primary Care Trust

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by Easington primary care trust in its cessation of smoking programme; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Annual data for the monitoring of the national health service stop smoking services, for the periods April 2002 to March 2003, April 2003 to March 2004 and April 2004 to March 2005, is shown in table 1.
	Provisional results from the quarterly report that monitors the NHS stop smoking services (for the period April 2005 to June 2005quarter 1 is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 1: People(57) setting a quit date and those successfully quit(58) annually since 2002, Easington primary care trust
		
			  Number setting a quit date Number successfully quit at four week follow-up (self report) 
		
		
			 200203 1,402 843 
			 200304 1,782 1,075 
			 200405 2,398 1,254 
		
	
	(57) Aged 16 and over.
	(58) A client is counted as having successfully quit smoking at the four week follow-up if he/she has not smoked at all since two weeks after the quit date. The figures presented here are based on self-report of smoking status by the client at the four week follow-up.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics.
	
		Table 2: People(59) setting a quit date and those successfully quit(60) April 2005 to June 2005, Easington primary care trust
		
			  
		
		
			 Number setting a quit date 696 
			 Number successfully quit at four week follow-up (self report) 306 
		
	
	(59) Aged 16 and over.
	(60) A client is counted as having successfully quit smoking at the four week follow-up if he/she has not smoked at all since two weeks after the quit date. The figures presented here are based on self-report of smoking status by the client at the four week follow-up.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics.

Elderly Care Provision

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that elderly patients in (a) hospitals and (b) nursing and residential homes are afforded privacy for personal care.

Liam Byrne: Standards for Better Health already describes the level of care that national health service organisations are expected to meet, including care that is supportive of patient privacy. The standards are a key part of the performance assessment undertaken by the Healthcare Commission of all health care organisations.
	Similarly, in social care settings, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) inspects regulated care services against the national minimum standards described in Care Homes for Older PeopleNational Minimum Standards. Privacy and dignity are covered explicitly by these standards.
	Both the Healthcare Commission and CSCI have statutory powers to take action where the relevant standards are not being met.

Foster Review

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when she expects to publish the findings of the Foster review into non-medical health regulation; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when she expects to publish the findings of the Donaldson review into regulation of the medical profession; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The last meeting of the Chief Medical Officer's advisory group on medical regulation took place on 20 December 2005. The Chief Medical Officer is now preparing his report taking account of the deliberations of the advisory group, the responses to his Call for Ideas document, and the report of the Shipman inquiry and other relevant inquiries. The review undertaken by Andrew Foster has also involved extensive meetings and reviews of evidence in the complex field of non-clinical regulation. These major pieces of work will be submitted in reports to Ministers when concluded and a statement on the decisions reached given in due course.

General Medical Council

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average period between referral to the General Medical Council and a disciplinary hearing taking place was in each year since 2000;
	(2)  how many disciplinary cases were heard by the General Medical Council in each year since 2000;
	(3)  how many medical practitioners were referred for disciplinary action before the General Medical Council in each year since 2000.

Jane Kennedy: The Government do not collect data on the General Medical Council's disciplinary processes. I would therefore suggest that the hon. Gentleman writes to the General Medical Council at Regents Place, 350 Euston Road, London, NW1 3JN.

General Practitioners

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have attended general practitioner surgeries in the borough of Lewisham in each of the past five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.

General Practitioners

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost of general practitioners claiming entitlement for patients who have moved or died and not informed their general practitioner in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The Audit Commission are currently carrying out a study, the national duplicate registration initiative, to identify the costs associated with inaccurate patient registrations, including where patients have moved or died, but also to assess how systems may be improved in order to minimise duplications. The report is expected in the spring.

General Practitioners

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that general practices have a choice of IT systems within defined interoperability standards.

Liam Byrne: All general practitioners are able to exercise choice between general practice clinical systems, including those systems offered by the national programme's local service providers, which meet the programme's requirements for accreditation. These requirements include defined standards for system function and interoperability. The standards are subject to continuing review and updating to ensure increased patient safety and benefits to general practice users. NHS Connecting for Health continues to work with suppliers and general practice professional bodies to expand the range of systems available to general practitioners which are compliant with the standards.

Genetic Testing

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been undertaken (a) by the Medical Research Council and (b) through her Department's research and development budget for the NHS into developing genetic testing.

Jane Kennedy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The MRC has a genetics portfolio and spends some 80 million per year on this area of research. The portfolio has a focus on the identification of disease susceptibility genes, on involvement and interplay of the environment and genes in disease, on analysis of gene expression in disease, and on uncovering disease biomarkers. Outputs from any of this research may contribute to the development of genetic diagnostic tools.
	The genetics White Paper, Our inheritance, our futurerealising the potential of genetics in the NHS, published in June 2003, announced that the Department would invest up to 4 million to fund pharmacogenetic research on existing medicines. Pharmacogenetics involves the tailoring of medication choice or dose to a patient's genetic make-up, usually assessed with the aid of genetic testing. The 4 million was awarded to six research projects selected in 2004.
	The five genetics knowledge parks (GKPs), jointly funded by the Department and the Department for Trade and Industry, are undertaking research that includes an examination of the feasibility and ethical and legal implications of testing for sudden cardiac death syndrome, and for the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. The GKPs' work programmes also feature genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolaemia and the clinical and psychological impact of genetic testing on people being helped to give up smoking.
	The National Genetics Reference Laboratories (NGRL) are developing new technologies to meet service needs and exploring the service configurations needed for pharmacogenetic testing in the national health service. Developing quality assurance in genetic testing is part of the NGRL remit, and one important aspect of this is the development of appropriate reference and control reagents.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. The NHS has reported spending from this funding in support of genetics research as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			  Spending in support of genetics research 
		
		
			 200304 28 
			 200405 31 
		
	
	Details of individual projects, including those to do with the development and use of genetic tests, can be found on the national research register on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Health Trainers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS-accredited health trainers have been employed since September 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Health White Paper

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will postpone any proposals to merge ambulance trusts arising from the current consultation until the urgent care service strategy described in paragraph 4.51 of the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say, is developed.

Liam Byrne: Organisational reconfiguration does not preclude ambulance trusts being involved in the development and provision of integrated urgent care services nor does it prejudge their role in providing urgent care services.
	Primary care trusts will continue to commission urgent care services, including ambulance services, and we expect ambulance trusts to continue to provide services tailored to particular localities within their area, whether or not ambulance trusts are merged. Larger ambulance trusts, if established, would have the strategic capacity and flexibility of resources to help them play an even greater part in working in partnership with other health and social care agencies to develop urgent care services that meet the needs of local people.

Health White Paper

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the national approach to risk management described in paragraph 4.42 of the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say, is expected to be placed on a statutory basis.

Liam Byrne: This decision has not yet been taken.

Healthcare Commission

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what complaints procedure is in operation for complaints against the Healthcare Commission;
	(2)  how many complaints against the Healthcare Commission were received in 2005.

Jane Kennedy: The Chairman of the Healthcare Commission has confirmed that current advice, which is published on its website, is that anyone wishing to complain about the Commission should contact a named member of staff. When complaints are received in this way they are referred to the section of the Healthcare Commission concerned to respond to. The Health Commission's chief executive responds to complaints addressed directly to her. Central guidance for its staff on dealing with complaints made against it is being currently developed.
	The Chairman has also confirmed that information on the number of complaints made is not held centrally.

Healthy Lifestyle Schemes

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on schemes the Department is funding to promote healthy lifestyles in people aged 50 years and over.

Caroline Flint: A number of initiatives are under way to promote healthy lifestyles in people aged 50 and over. As part of the partnerships for older peoples project (POPP) initiative the Department has awarded funding of over 39 million to 19 local authority-led partnerships across England to improve health and well being outcomes for older people. Each pilot site, which will be operational by 1 May 2006 will develop, test and evaluate, a range of different ways of providing more support and care for local older people, which will enable them to have a better quality of life and remain in control of their own lives for as long as possible. Several of the pilot sites include health promotion activities as part of their wide-ranging projects. For example:
	The cross-Government leaflet, Are you over 50?, is being revised and will be available April 2006. The emphasis is very much on active ageing.
	Nine local exercise action pilots (LEAP) are under way across England, jointly funded by the Department, the Countryside Agency and Sport England. The pilots are testing different community approaches to increasing physical activity in deprived areas. Three of the pilots based at Ashton, Leigh and Wigan, Nottingham city and West of Cornwall Primary Care Trust have a specific focus on older people.

Health Professions Council

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what complaints she has received about the registration process of the Health Professions Council; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I am only aware of one complaint involving the registration process of the Health Professions Council since July 2005.

HIV/AIDS

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland were diagnosed as having HIV/AIDS in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: These data are only routinely published at strategic health authority level. These are shown in tables 1 and 2. Full HIV data are not yet available for 2005. The HIV diagnoses are from reports received from laboratories and clinicians by the end of December 2005.
	
		Table 1: Numbers of HIV diagnoses made in County Durham and Tees Valley since 1997
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 7 
			 1998 3 
			 1999 5 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 16 
			 2002 25 
			 2003 35 
			 2004 34 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Numbers of HIV diagnoses for England since 1997
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 2,532 
			 1998 2,638 
			 1999 2,916 
			 2000 3,649 
			 2001 4,807 
			 2002 5,888 
			 2003 6,831 
			 2004 6,819 
		
	
	Source:
	HPAReports of HIV Diagnoses

HIV/AIDS

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to increase access to HIV (a) testing and (b) treatment among African communities living in England; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Through the African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) and partner organizations, the Department has funded the campaign It's Better to Know aimed specifically at increasing awareness of HIV testing among people from African communities living in England. We are working with the AHPN to develop a further HIV awareness raising campaign to be taken forward during 2006. We fund the African AIDS helpline, which provides information in a variety of languages. We have also funded a pilot project exploring the feasibility of providing additional HIV testing facilities outside of the genito-urinary medicine setting. This pilot is currently being evaluated.

HIV/AIDS

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to increase awareness of HIV among (a) heterosexual and (b) homosexual males.

Caroline Flint: Awareness of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, will be addressed through a new sexual health media campaign, announced as part of the Choosing Health White Paper, to modernise and transform sexual health in England. The campaign will focus on the risks of unprotected sex and the benefits of using condoms to avoid the risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV.
	A major aim for the campaign is normalising condom use and implicitly this will contribute to reducing the risk of HIV. The campaign is additional and complementary to, existing HIV Awareness campaigns for those most at risk, in partnership with key voluntary sector organisations.
	HIV awareness for men who have sex with men is delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust in an ongoing targeted programme of information and selected media campaigns.

Independent Sector Providers

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the contracts being negotiated with independent sector providers of elective treatment will provide for payments exceeding the NHS equivalent cost by a (a) greater and (b) smaller percentage than the average excess in 200405.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 30 January 2006
	All contracts negotiated with independent sector providers have to demonstrate value for money. Value for money is based upon a combination of price and quality. It is not possible to predict the outcome of current negotiations but we do not expect to pay more than the average excess paid in 200405. From 2008, any new provider and existing independent sector treatment centre providers, once their contracts have expired, will be expected to provide services at the agreed national health service price.

Independent Sector Providers

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  under what terms NHS (a) trusts, (b) primary care trusts and (c) health authorities procure independent sector elective treatment;
	(2)  what guidance her Department offers to NHS (a) trusts, (b) primary care trusts and (c) health authorities about the procurement of independent sector elective treatment.

Jane Kennedy: holding answers 30 January 2006
	The Department has not issued guidance nor has it provided standard terms with regard to the procurement of independent sector elective treatment.

Independent Sector Providers

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS can withhold payment under contracts with independent sector providers where the number of procedures stipulated in the contract is not fulfilled; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: National health service commissioners can withhold payments where the provider of an independent sector treatment centre does not complete procedures in accordance with the terms of the contract. If the referral of patients to the treatment centre is less than that stipulated in the contract, agreed between the provider and the commissioner, the provider will be paid the difference between the value of referrals and the minimum contract value to cover their costs of providing sufficient resources to honour their contractual obligations.

Influenza Vaccines

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which general practitioners' surgeries in the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have been able to obtain sufficient supplies of influenza vaccine to inoculate all patients who fall into risk categories.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 12 January 2006
	This information requested is not collected centrally.
	However, the Department is supplying flu vaccine to any general practitioner surgeries from whom it receives orders.

Information Technology

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of general practitioners use system choice under the National Programme for IT in the NHS; and what target date has been set for achieving system choice throughout the NHS.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 February 2006
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) today.

Kidney Disease

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which funding for NHS research into kidney disease is meeting the Government's priorities for the treatment and management of the disease, including the standards set out in the Renal National Service Framework.

Jane Kennedy: Over 75 per cent. of the Department's research and development (R and D) budget is allocated to research active national health service organisations as R and D support funding. This funding is used to meet the research priorities and needs of the NHS, and to meet the NHS costs of hosting research and development supported by external funders. The priorities and needs funding supports the R and D required to underpin quality improvement and is explicitly linked to the national service frameworks (NSFs). Renal disease is an identified priority for NHS research and NHS organisations report spending some 11 million a year in support of research in that area.
	The Department, through its policy research programme, commissioned independent reviews of the available research evidence on kidney disease and its management for both parts of the NSF for renal services, ensuring the standards and quality requirements of the NSF are evidence-based.

Kidney Disease

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on NHS research into causes, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease in each of the last five years; and if she will list the research projects on kidney disease funded in each year.

Jane Kennedy: The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service through its national research programmes. Expenditure on research into kidney disease supported by these programmes is shown in the table.
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200001 102 
			 200102 138 
			 200203 224 
			 200304 284 
			 200405 203 
		
	
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. The NHS has reported spending from this funding in support of renal disease research as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 11.1 
			 200304 10.6 
			 200405 10.8 
		
	
	This expenditure data was not collected centrally prior to 2002.
	Details of the individual projects concerned can be found on the national research register on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Long-term Conditions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 729W, on long-term conditions, what is the role of her Department's document, 'Supporting People with Long Term Conditions'; by what process (a) this document and (b) the national service framework for long-term conditions was created; and whether the document has been superseded by the national service framework on long-term conditions.

Liam Byrne: The publication, 'Supporting People with Long Term Conditions' was developed to provide a health and social care model for long-term conditions. It was written for a management and senior clinician audience to provide a strategic direction to the national health service and social care. The management model was developed with the active engagement of a number of stakeholders including the NHS, local authorities, patients and the voluntary sector.
	The national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions builds on 'Supporting People with Long Term Conditions' by focusing on the implementation and delivery of improved treatment and care for people with long-term conditions. The NSF was developed with the advice of an independent external reference group consisting of health and social care professionals, service users and carers.

Medical Procedures (Costs)

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for mitral/aortic valve replacements in each year since 1997; and how many mitral/aortic valve replacements were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(2)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for hernia repairs in each year since 1997; and how many hernia repairs were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(3)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for total hip replacements in each year since 1997; and how many total hip replacements were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(4)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for coronary artery bypass grafting in each year since 1997; and how many coronary artery bypass grafts were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(5)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for total knee replacements in each year since 1997; and how many total knee replacements were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(6)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for stripping of varicose veins in each year since 1997; and how many operations to strip varicose veins were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(7)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for hysterectomies in each year since 1997; and how many hysterectomies were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(8)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for tonsillectomies in each year since 1997; and how many tonsillectomies were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(9)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for operations for enlarged prostates in each year since 1997; and how many operations for enlarged prostates were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(10)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for cataract extractions and lens implants in each year since 1997; and how many cataract extractions and lens implants were carried out by each hospital trust in each year;
	(11)  if she will list the payments made to (a) Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, (b) Barts and The London NHS Trust, (c) Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, (d) St Mary's NHS Trust, (e) University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (f) Royal West Sussex NHS Trust, (g) Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, (h) Airedale NHS Trust, (i) Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, (j) the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust, (k) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (l) The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, (m) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, (n) Medway NHS Trust, (o) Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, (p) Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust, (q) Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (r) George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, (s) West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and (t) Burton Hospitals NHS Trust for heart transplants in each year since 1997; and how many heart transplants were carried out by each hospital trust in each year.

Liam Byrne: Information on payments is not held centrally. National health service trusts do not normally receive funding from the Department, but receive income for the provision of services from commissioners, principally, from primary care trusts.
	Data on the number of finished consultant episodes has been placed in the Library.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many inspectors of mental health facilities are employed by the Healthcare Commission;
	(2)  how many mental health establishments were inspected by the Healthcare Commission in 2005.

Jane Kennedy: The Chairman of the Healthcare Commission has confirmed that it does not have specific mental health inspectors. The Healthcare Commission has moved to a model of assessment managers and senior assessment managers, each of whom has a general job description. There are 37 assessment managers and 104 senior assessment managers across the Healthcare Commission.
	The Chairman of the Healthcare Commission has also confirmed that between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005, 197 mental health establishments were inspected (statutory announced and unannounced only).

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation between the Healthcare Commission and independent operators of in-patient care facilities for people suffering from mental illness took place in 2005 on inspection procedures.

Jane Kennedy: The Chairman of the Healthcare Commission has confirmed that it held a public consultation on revisions to its inspection methods between November 2004 and February 2005. The Healthcare Commission also held consultation meetings on inspection methods in each of its four regions in January 2005 and information exchange workshops in June 2005. All registered providers, including mental health establishments, were invited to these events.
	Consultation on changes planned for 2006 started on 2 December 2005 and runs until 24 February. Consultation documents are published on the Healthcare Commission's website at: www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/contactus

Mental Health

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of mental health services in Buckinghamshire were funded by (a) Wycombe Primary Care Trust, (b) Buckinghamshire Mental Health Trust, (c) Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust and (d) Buckinghamshire county council in each year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Revenue allocations are made direct to primary care trusts who determine their expenditure on services according to local priorities.
	This information requested is not centrally held by the Department However, information about spend on mental health services is available from The 200405 National Survey of Investment in Mental Health Services which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/52/96/04115296.pdf.

Monitor

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total budget of Monitor was in each year since it was established; what it will be in 200607; how many whole-time equivalent staff it has; at what salary grades; how much of its budget has been spent on external consultants; and whether these consultants were commissioned on a basis of contestability.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for Monitor, whose statutory name is the independent regulator of national health service foundation trusts. The Chairman will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Monitor

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the contracts placed by the Monitor regulatory body with external consultants.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 February 2006
	This is a matter for Monitor, whose statutory name is the Independent Regulator of National Health Service Foundation Trusts. The Chairman will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

National Framework for Continuing Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the national framework for continuing care.

Liam Byrne: The Department intends to publish the national continuing care framework for consultation in April, subject to the need to take account of any further legal proceedings on relevant issues.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will extend the remit of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to enable it to judge cost-effectiveness with reference to both NHS and social care budgets.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) already takes a national health service and personal social services perspective in its economic analysis of clinical and cost effectiveness. This approach is set out in NICE'S 'Guide to the Methods of Technology Appraisal', published April 2004 and is available on the NICE'S website at: www.nice.org.uk/pdf/TAP_Methods.pdf

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to allow the National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence to fast-track its assessment of cancer drugs; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: On 3 November 2005, the Secretary of State for Health announced a new single technology appraisal process which allows the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to produce guidance to a faster timetable on important drugs. Work has started on the first tranche of topics, and NICE is consulting in parallel on the detail of the new process.

National Programme for Information Technology

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the progress of the National Programme for Information Technology; and what progress the software supplier has made in supplying systems for use in the programme.

Liam Byrne: The national programme for information technology (NPfIT), which is being delivered by the NHS Connecting for Health agency, is an essential part of creating a safer, and more efficient and modern national health service. The foundations have now been laid, and the organisational and commercial infrastructure established, to deploy the systems the NHS needs to provide more effective health care to patients. Implementation work continues to gather momentum and its impact is beginning to be felt more and more widely across the NHS.
	The programme has already delivered new systems to thousands of locations in the NHS. The extent of deployment of the programme's many software suppliers' systems across the five regional cluster areas, as at the end of January 2006 has been placed in the Library.
	Progress is within budget, ahead of schedule in some areas, and, in the context of a 10-year programme, broadly on track in others. It now has over 180,000 registered NHS users across England. The live IT systems are performing well and are regularly achieving their contracted service and performance levels. Weekly updates of performance and deployment data are being routinely published on the internet.
	Altogether, we estimate that well over one and a half million patients have already received improved and safer care as a result of systems and services made available through national programme developments. This figure is increasing every week.

NHS Appointments Commission

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will require the NHS Appointments Commission to change its policy of reappointing chairmen and non-executive members of primary care trust boards where those appointees have presided over trusts that are failing or under investigation.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 February 2006
	The NHS Appointments Commission has recently reappointed members to a number of primary care trusts (PCTs). In making these decisions, the NHS Appointments Commission has taken into account the need to ensure continuity of service pending the outcome of local consultations on potential reconfiguration. All appointments to reconfigured PCTs, will go through a process of fair, open and transparent competition once the outcome is determined.

NHS Appointments Commission

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors affected the decision of the NHS Appointments Commission to proceed with the advertisement of the post of Chairman of the new Regional Ambulance Trust in the east of England; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The decision to advertise these posts is sensible contingency planning that does not pre-empt the outcome of the public consultation. If a decision is made to change ambulance trust configuration, it would be necessary to move quickly to establish the new organisations in order to minimise uncertainty for staff and for service continuity. This includes having quorate boards as soon as possible so that decisions can be taken and staff transferred to the new organisations.

NHS Capital Building Projects

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total amount spent on capital building projects in the NHS was in real terms at today's prices in each of the last 30 years.

Liam Byrne: The total amount of capital expenditure in the national health service over the last 30 years in 200405 prices is shown in the table.
	
		NHS capital expenditure: England 197475 to 200405
		
			   Capital net NHS expenditure ( billion in 200405 prices) 
		
		
			 Cash   
			 197475 Outturn 1.77 
			 197576 Outturn 1.90 
			 197677 Outturn 1.83 
			 197778 Outturn 1.46 
			 197879 Outturn 1.49 
			 197980 Outturn 1.43 
			 198081 Outturn 1.64 
			 198182 Outturn 1.81 
			 198283 Outturn 1.77 
			 198384 Outturn 1.74 
			 198485 Outturn 1.82 
			 198586 Outturn 1.83 
			 198687 Outturn 1.80 
			 198788 Outturn 1.68 
			 198889 Outturn 1.57 
			 198990 Outturn 1.93 
			 199091 Outturn 2.09 
			 199192 Outturn 2.11 
			 199293 Outturn 2.35 
			 199394 Outturn 2.08 
			 199495 Outturn 2.40 
			 199596 Outturn 2.17 
			 199697 Outturn 1.62 
			 199798 Outturn 1.28 
			 199899 Outturn 0.92 
			 19992000 Outturn 1.08 
			
			 RB stage 1   
			 19992000 Outturn 1.02 
			 200001 Outturn 1.38 
			 200102 Outturn 1.87 
			 200203 Outturn 2.21 
			
			 RB stage 2   
			 200304 Outturn 2.50 
			 200405 Estimated outturn 3.40 
		
	
	These figures exclude NHS capital projects funded through the private finance initiative.

NHS Data Spine

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have access to the NHS data spine; what safeguards are in place to prevent unlawful access to the spine; what audit arrangements are in place to monitor inappropriate access to the spine; what penalties are available for unlawful use of the spine; and what guidance has been issued on the appropriate course of action if individuals are found to have misused the system.

Liam Byrne: The national health service data spine is the technical architecture that underpins the NHS care records service in England (NHS CRS). Eventually all national health service staff involved in patient care will have access to the NHS CRS. The level of access granted will depend on their role. As at 31 January 2006 there were about 181,000 users registered for access.
	Access depends on the use of a smartcard with photographic identification and a pass code, which can only be obtained upon verification of identity and through a formal user registration process. This process involves being sponsored by an appropriate user registration sponsor from the organisation in which an individual works and includes determining the level of access that individual will have. Access to a patient's care record is limited to only as much information as is needed for the purpose of the job role being performed in relation to the patient.
	An audit trail will be maintained of everyone who has accessed a patient's information. Audits will be carried out to identify suspicious behaviour. Anyone trying to look at patient information contrary to their access rights will trigger an automatic alert. A privacy officer will then take action, including telling the patient where appropriate.
	NHS staff have a duty of confidentiality to patients, and a contractual obligation to comply with the NHS Code of Conduct on Confidentiality. Accessing the NHS CRS without a legitimate business reason constitutes a breach of the code, which is a disciplinary offence and could lead to dismissal. Patients' rights are also protected under the Data Protection Act 1998, which provides significant penalties for non-compliance.
	As part of a major exercise to prepare the NHS for the arrival of the NHS CRS, NHS Connecting for Health are issuing substantial information to frontline NHS staff about the new service, which includes guidance on information governance.

NHS Debt

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total NHS debt is in relation to private finance initiative projects.

Liam Byrne: Private finance initiative (PFI) unitary payments are just one component of a Trust's total expenditure and the PFI expenditure by all operational schemes in 200506 is estimated to be about 215 million, considerably below the deficit shown for the first six months of the year.
	Figures for foundation trusts are not included.

NHS Earnings

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average NHS earnings were in real terms at today's prices for (a) consultants, (b) general practitioners, (c) dentists and (d) nurses employed in the NHS in each of the last 30 years.

Liam Byrne: The available information is shown in the following tables. Tables 1 and 2 show the average earnings of consultants and qualified nurses band on national health service earnings survey data uplifted to 200405 prices. This data is not available prior to 199899 and has been collated biannually since 200001. Table 3 shows that intended average net income for general practitioners set by the review body doctors and dentists review for the years since 197475 in 200405 prices. Table 4 shows the estimated average general dental service (GDS) net income for dentists with a reasonable GDS commitment since 199798. Figures are not available on a comparable basis for previous years.
	Estimated average earnings in real terms for consultants, qualified nurses and midwives earnings in England.
	
		Table 1: Consultant-estimated average earningsEngland
		
			  
			  Average earnings 
			  Cash terms 200405 prices 
		
		
			 199899 65,600 75,100 
			 19992000 69,700 78,300 
			 200001 71,900 79,700 
			 200102 (61) (61) 
			 200203 83,700 87,700 
			 200304 (61) (61) 
			 200405 94,700 94,700 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Qualified nurses and midwives-estimated average earningsEngland
		
			  
			  Average earnings 
			  Cash terms 200405 prices 
		
		
			 199899 19,600 22,400 
			 19992000 21,400 24,000 
			 200001 22,600 25,000 
			 200102 (61) (61) 
			 200203 24,500 25,700 
			 200304 (61) (61) 
			 200405 26,400 26,400 
		
	
	(61) No figures are available for these years.
	Notes:
	1. The earnings survey is based on a sample of approximately 50 per cent. of NHS trusts, derived.
	2. Earnings figures are based on monthly payments in August, multiplied by 12 to give annual equivalent amounts.
	3. The earnings survey is conducted on a biennial basis from 2000 onwards, hence no figures are available 2001 or 2003.
	4. Earnings figures are rounded to the nearest hundred pounds.
	5. 2004 equivalent earnings are calculated using HM Treasury Gross Domestic Product Deflator Index.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre NHS Staff Earnings Survey
	
		Table 3: Intended Average Net Income for General Practitioners, 197475 to 200304, Great Britain
		
			  
			  IANI 
			  cash terms In 200405 prices 
		
		
			 197475 6,286 41,801 
			 197576 8,735 46,320 
			 197677 8,963 41,911 
			 197778 9,313 38,328 
			 197879 12,146 45,034 
			 197980 14,284 45,335 
			 198081 16,955 45,536 
			 198182 17,970 44,067 
			 198283 18,990 43,494 
			 198384 20,288 44,426 
			 198485 21,815 45,395 
			 198586 23,212 45,823 
			 198687 24,670 47,197 
			 198788 26,840 48,640 
			 198889 28,800 48,779 
			 198990 31,105 49,184 
			 199091 33,630 49,318 
			 199192 37,512 51,879 
			 199293 40,010 53,629 
			 199394 40,610 53,078 
			 199495 41,890 53,922 
			 199596 43,165 54,047 
			 199697 44,483 53,797 
			 199798 46,031 54,071 
			 199899 48,037 55,001 
			 19992000 52,606 59,069 
			 200001 54,219 60,094 
			 200102 56,510 61,123 
			 200203 61,618 64,596 
			 200304(62) 67,040 68,470 
		
	
	(62) Forecast figure.
	Note:
	IANI relates to all principal GPs (full-time and part-time).
	
		Table 4:Estimated average general dental service (GDS) net income for dentists with a reasonable GDS commitment(63), 199798 to 200405, England and Wales.
		
			  
			  Estimated average net income 
			 Financial year Cash terms In 200405 prices 
		
		
			 199798 51,200 60,143 
			 199899 54,300 62,172 
			 19992000 55,700 62,544 
			 200001(64) (65)59,200 (65)65,614 
			 200102 60,500 65,439 
			 200203 63,300 66,359 
			 200304 66,700 68,122 
			 200405 70,000 70,000 
		
	
	(63) Dentists with a reasonable commitment to the GDS are defined as dentists with GDS earnings equivalent to at least 40,000 in 199394 in fees for treatments and patient capitation. This equivalent is calculated each year by adjusting figures to take into account the effect of fee increases. The equivalent figure for 200405 is 59,100.
	(64) Commitment payments started in 2001.
	(65) Figures since 200001 use a different methodology to calculate the contribution from other non-fee/capitation payments.
	Note:
	Figures prior to 199798 are not available on a comparable basis.
	Source:
	DH and HSCIC analysis of Dental Practice Board payments and HMRC tax data
	The income figures cover both estimated fees for treatments and patient capitation as well as other estimated payments such as seniority payments and commitment payments and payments for maternity and sickness.

NHS Employee Grades

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the (a) annual reduction in income expectation and (b) the loss in pension contributions over a five-year period of a Whitley grade 5 NHS employee transferred to the equivalent band 4 Agenda for Change grade.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 7 February 2006
	There is no automatic equivalence between Whitley and agenda for change pay bands. However, where job evaluation results in assimilation to a pay band with a lower maximum remuneration, and there are no offsetting changes in other aspects of remuneration, staff may be subject to the agenda for change pay protection rules. While these ensure there is no loss in actual income, a person who remains on protected pay this April will forego the benefit of annual pay awards. But the consequent reduction in income expectations cannot be calculated until the relevant pay awards are known.
	Similarly, the effect on pension contributions of a person in any protection cannot be calculated until the relevant pay awards are known.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 145W, on NHS finance, what the total reduction in provision for clinical negligence declared by the NHS Litigation Authority was in 200405; and whether it is expected that further such reductions will be declared in (a) 200506 and (b) future financial years.

Jane Kennedy: The total reduction to provisions for the NHS Litigation Authority in 200405 was 1,872 million. This overall reduction reflects a 1,497 million recalculation to record the cumulative adjustment to clinical negligence provisions dating back to 200001 as a technical change and a 375 million further reduction in budget requirement due to a change in the methodology for calculating clinical negligence claims in 200405. These factors will be built into budget management for current and future years.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the total cost to an average sized NHS trust of preparing an application for NHS foundation trust status.

Liam Byrne: Information on national health service trusts preparing for an application for NHS foundation trust (NHSFT) status is not held centrally, as costs will vary from trust to trust.
	The decision on when to apply for foundation trust status is one which is taken locally and applicant trusts are responsible for meeting the costs associated with their application and establishment as a NHSFT. However, the Department provides some direct financial and advisory support to applicants to assist them in preparing for their application and establishment as a foundation trust.

NHS Private Treatment

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations paid for by the NHS were carried out by private sector providers in December 2005 (a) in England and (b) in Kettering.

Liam Byrne: As part of the national independent sector procurement, 8,762 diagnostic assessments and 3,786 clinical procedures were carried out by independent sector providers in England in December 2005. During the same period, the Capio Woodlands Hospital national health service treatment centre in Kettering discharged 25 NHS patients referred for treatment under a national contract. Information is not held on operations which are commissioned locally from the independent sector.

NHS Purchasing and Logistics

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to improve efficiency in NHS purchasing and logistics since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer16 January 2006
	The Government recognise the importance of achieving value for money in public procurement and the necessity of a modern supply chain in meeting this and other national health service requirements. It also needs to ensure that national purchasing and supply activity is relevant to the needs of the NHS.
	In 1997, the national purchasing body for the NHS in England was the NHS Supplies Authority established in 1991. With a remit to obtain best value on supply spending for the NHS as a whole, it accomplished a great deal in moving towards a more strategic and collaborative NHS purchasing structure. However, as a special health authority NHS Supplies had limited powers and spheres of influence.
	In 1998 the Cabinet Office Review of NHS procurement identified the need for a central purchasing organisation, with sufficient authority to exert a genuine influence on the NHS, both directly and via input at policy-making level within government. The review recommended:
	the establishment of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) to act as a strategic adviser on supply issues critical to the NHS;
	a separate logistics operation for the NHS, NHS Logistics Authority, established in April 2000;
	the transfer of staff from NHS Supplies Customer Services Divisionwhich provided dedicated supplies staff based on-site at individual trusts to the employment of individual NHS trusts. This was completed by the end of October 1999.
	The role of the NHS PASA was to act as a centre of expertise, knowledge and excellence in purchasing and supply matters for the NHS. Acting not just as an advisory and co-ordinating body but also as a leader in the modernisation of purchasing and supply for the NHS, NHS PASA contracts on a national basis for products and services which are strategically critical to the NHS. It also acts in cases where aggregated purchasing power will yield greater economic savings than those achieved by contracting on a sub-national basis.
	NHS PASA contributes to the delivery of fast, responsive patient care by working with suppliers to ensure the availability of cost-effective equipment, goods and services; leading the development of electronic commerce in the NHS to reduce transaction costs and release resources for direct patient care.
	The NHS Logistics Authority works to support the operational activity of the NHS by providing best value for the NHS in the supply of goods and supply chain services required in the support of health care.
	Since its inception there has been significant progress, most notably in terms of:
	Increase in salesSales are forecast to reach 780.5 million by the end of the 200506 financial year, an increase of 42 per cent. over 200001. Consolidating demand through a single, efficient, primary supply channel enables trusts to save money and improve efficiency. It also enables trusts to benefit from supply services that provide continuously improving value for money.
	Reducing costsA programme of continuous improvement and cost minimisation to contribute to improved health care and cost reductions that benefit the whole English NHS.
	Catalogue rangeThe catalogue range has increased from 17,000 products in 2000 to over 43,000 products, giving trusts even greater choice.
	Providing a high quality serviceCustomer satisfaction now at a record high of 88 per cent. and average service level to trusts consistently above 98 per cent.
	E-commerceWorked towards maximising the use of e-commerce.
	Supply chain modernisationoffers consultancy and practical support in developing a world class supply chain for the NHS. Supply chain modernisation can save the NHS many millions of pounds each year by reducing excess inventory in trusts and unlocking both staff and funding for improved patient care.
	In June 2003, the Department established the commercial directorate in support of gaining efficiencies across the NHS and to ensure value for money in particular areas of spend building relationships with the independent sector using a commercially focused approach.
	After a review of the NHS supply chain the commercial directorate launched the supply chain excellence programme (SCEP) in March 2004. The three-year programme is focused on the restructure of the NHS supply chain to gain efficiencies and improve the effectiveness of supply management in the NHS. SCEP aims to gain the best value for the money the NHS spends each year on goods and services. This will ensure the greatest possible share of NHS funding is directed towards improving clinical capacity and ultimately patient care. Overall, SCEP is expected to deliver annualised savings of over 500 million by 200708.
	The healthcare industries task force, a ministerial led initiative which worked in partnership with industry, recommended that a new device evaluation service should be established to help inform procurement decisions and encourage the uptake of useful, safe, innovative products and procedures used in health and social care. To effect the necessary changes the centre for evidence-based purchasing (CEP)formerly the device evaluation servicemoved to NHS PASA on 1 October 2005 and a new structure and processes are being established in early 2006.

NHS Restructuring

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in her Department are involved in policy work on the proposed restructuring of the NHS in England, broken down by grade; and how many are secondees from NHS trusts.

Liam Byrne: The senior officer responsible for commissioning a patient led national health service is Sir Ian Carruthers seconded from the NHS. He is supported by a central team of 14 permanent staff, three of whom are secondees from the NHS. This includes three senior civil servants. The remaining posts are all in the integrated payband.

NHS Trusts

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 151W, on NHS trusts, what assessment will be made of the value of turnaround teams.

Jane Kennedy: The turnaround teams were announced by the Secretary of State in a ministerial statement on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS.
	The first stage of this is a baseline assessment, the aim of which is to ensure there is an agreed understanding of the local financial problem and that actions are in hand to address this. Following the assessment, the local national health service will identify the actions needed to return the organisations to financial balance and what tailored support is needed to support local management.
	The value of the teams will be assessed through the delivery of turnaround in the organisations concerned.

NHS Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1675W, on NHS trusts (mergers), what savings were anticipated in the risk analysis submitted for each planned merger of acute trusts in the last five years; and what steps were taken to monitor whether the predicted outcomes were achieved.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 February 2006
	In considering proposals for mergers, Ministers need to be satisfied that the lead strategic health authority (SHA) has presented a case that demonstrates the trust's ongoing delivery and development of services, and clinical and financial viability. SHAs are charged with performance managing trusts including ensuring the benefits of any merger are realised.

Older People's National Service Framework

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the National Clinical Director for Older People to publish his report Next Steps for Older People's National Service Framework.

Liam Byrne: Professor Ian Philp, the National Clinical Director for Older People, plans to publish his Next Steps report by the end of April.

Overseas Nurses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the qualifications of (a) Russian and (b) Pakistani overseas-trained nurses meet the standards required for admission to the Overseas Nursing Programme.

Liam Byrne: The nursing and midwifery council is responsible for the overseas nursing programme and for assessing the training and qualifications of nurses trained outside the United Kingdom and the European economic area.

Pain Relief (Children)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the drugs licensed for use in the NHS to provide pain relief for children.

Jane Kennedy: The following medicines are licensed in the United Kingdom and available on the national health service for the treatment of pain in children.
	Non-opioid analgesics:
	Paracetamol
	Co-codamol (codeine phosphate and paracetamol)
	Opioid analgesics:
	Morphine
	Buprenorphine
	Codeine Phosphate
	Diamorphine Hydrochloride
	Dihydrocodeine Tartrate
	Hydromorphone Hydrochloride
	Papaveretum
	Pethidine Hydrochloride
	Tramadol Hydrochloride
	Non-steroidal anti-infammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
	Ibuprofen
	Naproxen
	Diclofenac sodium
	Indometacin
	Mefenamic acid
	Meloxicam
	Piroxicam
	Information about the licensed indications and prescribing advice for doctors for all of these medicines is published in the British National Formulary for Children which is available in the Library.

Parkinson's Disease

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of funding for research into treatment for Parkinson's disease has been in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding her Department has provided for research into Parkinson's disease in each of the last eight years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			million 
			  Medical Research Council (MRC)(66)(67) Department of Health national research programmes(68) 
		
		
			 199797 n/a 0.020 
			 199899 n/a 0.063 
			 19992000 n/a 0.158 
			 200001 2.5 0.209 
			 200102 3.2 0.176 
			 200203 6.5 0.169 
			 200304 7.1 0.155 
			 200405 n/a 0.047 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	(66) The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	(67) The definition used to identify projects eligible for inclusion in this area of expenditure changed with effect from 200203.
	(68) The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From this funding, the NHS reported spending in support of research related to older people and on neurological conditions as follows:
	
		
			million 
			  Older people Neurological conditions 
		
		
			 200102 37 n/a 
			 200203 34 28 
			 200304 39 30 
			 200405 40 27 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	This expenditure data was not collected centrally prior to 2002. Details of individual projects, including projects to do with Parkinson's disease, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Parliamentary Questions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to answer the question from the hon. Member for Northavon tabled on 31 October for answer on 2 November, reference 24525, on child protection.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 2 February 2006
	A reply was given to the hon. Member on 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 969W.

Parliamentary Questions

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Woking, reference (a) 44640, (b) 44641, (c) 44644 and (d) 44117.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 February 2006
	Answers were given to the hon. Member on 6 February, 2 February, 31 January and 7 February respectively.

Partnerships for Older People

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where partnerships for older people projects are being piloted; when the introduction of these projects was first announced; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State announced that there would be 19 sites piloting partnerships for older people projects on 8 November 2005. The successful partnerships are in Bradford, Brent, Camden, Dorset, East Sussex, Knowsley, Leeds, Luton, Manchester, Norfolk, North Lincolnshire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Poole, Sheffield, Somerset, Southwark, Wigan and Worcestershire. In total, the pilot sites will cover about 150,000 older people. Funding will be made available to the successful applicants during April 2006 and pilots are expected to commence their projects by 1 May 2006 at the latest.

Pesticide Residue

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the (a) incidence and (b) levels of pesticide residue in (i) orange and (ii) lemon peel.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 16 January 2006
	The results of official surveillance for pesticide residues in food, published by the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC), show that most orange and lemon samples contain residues and that some of these residues are largely in the peel. PRC surveillance reports can be found on the Pesticides Safety Directorate's website at: www.pesticides.gov.uk/prc.asp?id=959. The Food Standards Agency advises that the residue levels currently found in oranges and lemons do not present a significant concern for consumer health.

Pigeon-transmitted Disease (South Manchester)

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reported cases there have been of (a) avian alveolitis, or pigeon fancier's lung, and (b) psittacosis transmitted from pigeons to humans via droppings in south Manchester in the last five years.

Liam Byrne: Avian alveolitis, also known as pigeon fancier's lung is caused by an allergic reaction to birds (pigeons and other species). As it is not an infectious disease, data on the number of cases are not collected centrally.
	Psittacosis is an infection, caused by the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci, that is acquired from birds (pigeons and other species), though not necessarily via droppings.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the data for south Manchester. The number of cases in England and Wales in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 2001 103 
			 2002 68 
			 2003 91 
			 2004 59 
			 2005 (69)57 
		
	
	(69) Provisional figures
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency
	In 2005, infection was most frequently reported from the north west health region of England.

Practice-based Commissioning

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what safeguards her Department is putting in place against conflicts of interest in practice-based commissioning;
	(2)  whether general practitioners will be able to commission services provided by themselves under practice-based commissioning.

Liam Byrne: General practitioners are able to provide services under practice based commissioning. Making Practice Based Commissioning a RealityTechnical Guidance (February 2005), makes it clear that where practices or localities are both a provider and a commissioner of services, it is very important that there are no actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Patients should also be given a choice of other providers of that service and should not feel pressured to choose the practice as provider.
	The roles and responsibilities of primary care trusts (PCTs) and practices under practice based commissioning was set out in Annexe D of Health reform in England: update and next steps (December 2005). This states that PCTs continue to negotiate and hold contracts under practice based commissioning.
	In addition, the Department has recently released updated practice based commissioning guidance. Practice based commissioning: achieving universal coverage (January 2006) reinforces the need for robust arrangements for agreeing contracts for services provided under practice based commissioning.

Prescriptions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost of adding cystic fibrosis to the list of diseases which give rise to exemption from prescription charges.

Jane Kennedy: Based on figures of the number of adult cystic fibrosis sufferers, not currently entitled to free prescriptions, provided by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust we estimate the cost of lost prescription revenue would be around 100,000, based on the assumption that all currently have a prescription pre-payment certificate.

Prescriptions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will undertake a public consultation on the list of diseases that give rise to exemption from prescription charges.

Jane Kennedy: We have no plans to undertake a consultation on the list of medical conditions that confer free prescriptions.
	Government policy is to help those who may have difficulty paying charges. The current exemption and charge remission arrangements are intended to ensure that no one need to be deterred from obtaining any necessary medication on financial grounds. Consequently 87 per cent. of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge.

Prescriptions

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many personal prescriptions have been prescribed in each year since 2000, broken down by primary care trusts; how much revenue has been raised from prescription charges in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The number of prescription items prescribed in general practitioner practices in England and dispensed in the community at primary care trust level from 2001 to 2004 has been placed in the Library. Earlier data are not available. The Department holds no data on private prescriptions.
	Income raised from prescription charges in England for each year since 2000 is contained in the Department's published resource accounts:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200405 422.4 
			 200304 426.0 
			 200203 420.8 
			 200102 410.9 
			 200001 323.2 
			 19992000 370.5 
		
	
	Figures represent revenue raised from when a charge is paid at point of dispensing and income raised from pre-payment certificates.

Press Coverage

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions since 1 April 2003 she has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of (a) Ministers or officials and (b) her Department; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

Liam Byrne: There have been no occasions since April 1 2003 that the Secretary of State for Health has complained to the Press Complaints Commission about the coverage in the press of Ministers, officials or the Department.

Primary Care Trusts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the Government introduced primary care trusts; and what the cost of setting them up was.

Liam Byrne: Primary care trusts (PCTs) were primarily introduced in order to bring together, primary and community care services for the benefit of patients. Further changes in the configuration of many PCTs are now required and are now the subject of local consultations.
	The Department does not hold information on the cost of setting up primary care trusts.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 744W, on primary care trusts, what evidence she has received of primary care trusts underspending against their enhanced services expenditure floor in the 200506 financial year; and whether underspends by primary care trusts in 200506 will be reinvested in 200607.

Liam Byrne: Quarterly financial monitoring reports from primary care trusts (PCTs) indicate that overall investment in enhanced services by PCTs in 200506 could be greater than the national planned investment.
	Investment in enhanced services in 200607 will be a matter decided upon and managed by PCTs, in a way that makes best use of resources in meeting locally agreed priorities.

Public Information Leaflets

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what method is used to calculate the number of Department of Health public information leaflets distributed to general practitioner practices and other health service sites.

Liam Byrne: The marketing strategy that accompanies the production of any public information leaflet determines how that leaflet is distributed. Typically for campaign literature, between 50 and 200 leaflets will be distributed to individual general practitioner (GP) surgeries complete with an extra copies order form.
	A network of national health service health promotion professionals, on a monthly basis, take receipt of public information leaflets that they have ordered on a cyclical delivery from our central distribution outlet.
	In addition to these channels, the Department also has a contract with the waiting room information service; who distribute a range of health care leaflets to GP surgeries using demographic information to target surgeries with the highest patient throughput. An analysis of the uptake of leaflets is presented to the Department on a quarterly basis.

Purified Protein Derivative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the possibility of compensation claims arising from complications in the use of unlicensed Mantoux-strength purified protein derivative.

Caroline Flint: Mantoux testing is now the internationally recognised standard for determining immunity to tuberculosis, and in line with this and in the absence of any further supplies of Heaf strength tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD), the Department now recommends that Mantoux testing replace Heaf testing.
	Although Statens Serum Institut PPD is unlicensed, the manufacturer still retains the responsibility for safety of the product, subject to it being used and stored correctly. If a patient suffers injury or illness as a result of a defect in the product, the manufacturer may be liable under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Similarly, individual doctors prescribe or administer unlicensed medicines to their patients on their own direct responsibility. A claim can be brought against a doctor who prescribes or administers any medicine, whether licensed or unlicensed, if the patient can show the doctor acted negligently. Doctors are required to have in place appropriate professional negligence insurance cover in respect of such claims. Should there be claims for negligence, the court is unlikely to find that the doctor acted negligently if use of the product was supported by a responsible body of medical opinion and the patient consented to treatment. Although each case would depend on its own facts, the fact that the product is licensed in other European Union states and that its use is supported by the Department, means that it is unlikely that any claim for damages against an individual doctor would be successful.

Regulatory Reform Orders

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulatory reform orders her Department has laid before Parliament in each of the last five calendar years.

Liam Byrne: The Department laid before Parliament one regulatory reform order, The National Health Service Charitable and Non-Charitable Trust Accounts and Audit Order in 2005.

Rickets

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure was in each of the last five years on the treatment of rickets.

Caroline Flint: The drugs used to treat rickets are calcium supplements, Hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria, phosphate supplements, phosphate binding agents and vitamin D. However, these drugs are also used to treat other diseases. We are unable to provide a breakdown of the expenditure by the disease it was used to treat.
	The amounts spent in each of the last five years are shown in the table. These figures exclude prescriptions in hospitals and non-drug costs of treatment such as general practitioner time.
	
		
			  000 
			  Costs 
		
		
			 2000 17,331 
			 2001 20,559 
			 2002 24,943 
			 2003 31,338 
			 2004 39,756

Rule of Rescue Principle

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence takes into account the rule of rescue when evaluating (a) drug treatments for brain cancer and (b) other drug treatments; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: In December 2005, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) launched its Social Value Judgements document setting out principles for the development of NICE guidance. At this time, NICE anticipated the later inclusion of additional areas.
	In order to inform this ongoing work, NICE asked a meeting of its Citizens Council in late January 2006 for its views on the rule of rescue. The Citizens Council heard evidence from a variety of experts and organisations active in this field to inform their discussions. I understand that the Citizens Council will in due course submit a report to the board of NICE setting out its findings.

Scanners

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the impact on waiting lists of scanners being used on a part-time basis because of staff shortages; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: No specific assessment has been made. However, this Government recognise the immediate need for additional workforce and imaging capacity. This is why additional diagnostic scanning activity is being procured from the independent sector to treat national health service patients and deliver a maximum wait of 18 weeks from referral to hospital treatment by 2008.
	However, the Government acknowledge that the NHS needs to recruit more radiographers and has taken action to address this. The latest data shows that there are now 18 per cent. more NHS radiographers than in 1997 and the number of students entering training to become a radiographer has more than doubled since 199697.

Sex Change Operations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many teenagers have undertaken sex change operations on the NHS in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: No operations for sexual transformation were carried out by the national health service on teenaged individuals between 199596 to 200405.

Sight Problems (Rehabilitation Officers)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of qualified rehabilitation officers for blind and partially-sighted people in London; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Rehabilitation services for blind and partially sighted people are provided by local health and social care bodies. It is for those organisations to commission appropriate services based on local need. This would include the number and training of teams available to provide rehabilitation for blind and partially sighted people.

Stoma Appliances

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses were received to the consultation on the provision of stoma appliances and other services; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The consultation document on the arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care was published on 24 October 2005 and closed on 23 January 2006.
	Responses were welcomed from all interested parties, including patients, the national health service and suppliers.
	The Department has received nearly 3,000 responses.
	Representation has been received from:
	patients;
	Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents, including MPs and MLAs from Northern Ireland;
	the NHS: primary care trusts; acute trusts, general practitioner practices and specialist nurses;
	community pharmacists;
	appliance contractors;
	manufacturers;
	wholesalers; and
	trade bodies representing industry.

Stoma Appliances

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to report on the consultation on stoma care and incontinence products; and if she will publish a summary of responses at the end of the consultation period.

Jane Kennedy: The consultation on the arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care closed on Monday, 23 January 2006.
	I can confirm that, following Cabinet Office guidelines, a summary of responses to the consultation will be published. This will be done in due course.

Strategic Health Authorities

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the (a) financial, (b) operational and (c) accountability consequences of the abolition of strategic health authorities.

Liam Byrne: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are not being abolished. They are being reconfigured and any changes are still subject to a full three-month consultation. Reconfiguration will reduce the running costs of SHAs but a full assessment of the financial, operational and accountability consequences of reconfiguration will happen after the consultation is completed.

Tarceva

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the cancer drug Tarceva (erlotinib) has been licensed in the UK.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 7 February 2006
	Tarceva was granted a marketing authorisation valid throughout the European Union on 19 September 2005.
	Tarceva is currently licensed for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.

Tubercolosis

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons Chapter 33 of the Department of Health Immunisation against Infectious Diseases 2006, published in November 2005, does not include reference to the unlicensed nature of the purified protein derivative used in the Mantoux test for tuberculosis and the need for this product to be issued under a patient specific direction.

Caroline Flint: Guidance regarding the supply and administration of any unlicensed vaccine, including Tuberculin purified protein derivative by patient specific directions is covered in the draft chapter 6, Immunisation by nurses and other healthcare professionals, of the Department's Immunisation against Infectious Diseases 2006, published in November 2005, which is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/33/48/04123348.pdf.

VAT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms her Department has in place for recovering VAT from the Treasury.

Liam Byrne: The Department follows HM Revenue and Customs' value added tax rules for Government Departments. For its non-business work, the Department recovers value added tax paid on inputs that feature in the Treasury (Contracting-out) Direction. If the Department carries out business activities, it recovers input tax under the same rules that apply to the private sector. Value added tax returns are made quarterly to HM Revenue and Customs.

Waiting Lists/Times

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with the Health Minister in the National Assembly for Wales about differences in the ways waiting lists are compiled in England and Wales.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 December 2005
	Discussions have not taken place at ministerial level although we have worked closely with Welsh Assembly officials to determine the differences in the content and definition of waiting list statistics in each country.
	These discussions will continue.

Waiting Lists/Times

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when data will be made available to measure the total waiting time from a patient's first visit to their GP to an operation being carried out.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Department is pioneering total waiting time measurement in chosen national health service sites this spring. The intention is to measure the total pathway, from referral to start of treatment, across England from April 2007 in order to have the data to support delivery of the 18 weeks pathway in 2008.

Waiting Lists/Times

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the clinical and surgical procedures included in the formula used by the NHS to calculate average waiting list times.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 30 January 2006
	In-patient waiting lists statistics include all patients waiting to be admitted to national health service hospitals in England either as a day case or ordinary admission. They do not include the following:
	patients admitted as emergency cases;
	out-patients;
	patients undergoing a planned programme of treatment, for example, a series of admissions for chemotherapy;
	expectant mothers booked for confinement;
	patients already in hospital and
	patients who are temporarily suspended from waiting lists for social reasons or because they are known to be not medically ready for treatment.

Winter Deaths

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the effects on the NHS of more than 40,000 excess winter deaths in a year taking place.

Jane Kennedy: The pressure on health services from those needing unscheduled care is greater in the winter months. This is planned for, and other types of care scheduled accordingly throughout the year. This winter pressure comes largely from an increase in the numbers of elderly people requiring admission to hospital. As winter progresses, the age and length of stay of those admitted tends to increase as a result.
	The excess in the number of deaths is only a partial marker for this increase in pressurefor two main reasons. Firstly, many of the deaths are relatively sudden, and may not give rise to a hospital admission. Secondly, hospitals tend to have very high occupancy during winter anyway, irrespective of how many excess deaths there are in the community. For primary care services, there is an undoubted increase in the workload originating from older people living at home during the winter.

Working Party on Respiratory Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the report of the Working Party on Respiratory Services in England.

Liam Byrne: Following the Chief Medical Officer's annual report published in July 2005, the Department has been considering the evidence relating to respiratory disease. Although there has been no working party, we have sought the advice of a number of stakeholders in a number of ways. Work collating the epidemiological and clinical evidence associated with a wide range of respiratory diseases will then be peer reviewed. We expect that process to be completed shortly in the new year when we will consider how to make it more widely available.